Department for Transport

East Coast Rail Franchise

Mr Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Oral Answer 1 March 2018, Official Report, column 945, what progress he is making on the appraisal of the options for the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise.

Joseph Johnson: Work is underway to consider the options. An announcement will be made in due course. The decision will be taken in a transparent way; the Department’s assessment of the option will be published and it will be properly validated.

Driverless Vehicles

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding his Department has allocated to the introduction of autonomous vehicles onto UK roads.

Jesse Norman: Since 2014, the Department for Transport has allocated £10.85m to research and development relating to automated vehicles. This includes £7.75m of funding towards the 4 Cities Driverless Cars project, and £3.1m towards the lorry platooning trials on the Strategic Road Network. Overall, the Government is investing over £250m in connected and autonomous vehicle technologies, up to 2021, with the remainder coming through the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy. This is being match-funded by industry: its purpose is to create a world leading testing and development ecosystem in the UK. To date, this funding is supporting 73 collaborative R&D projects and 4 capital testing infrastructure investments.

High Speed Two

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether up-to-date guidance on alternative dispute resolution for (a) HS2 Ltd and (b) the High Speed Two project in general has been produced and made available.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Alternate dispute resolution (ADR) is offered by HS2 Ltd in relation to relevant disputed property compensation matters that can otherwise be referred to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber). As I confirmed in my answer to the hon. Member of 9 February 2018 (UIN 126103), HS2 Ltd already issues guidance to individuals where this form of resolution is considered suitable. HS2 Ltd intends to publish guidance on the ADR process later this month.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the obstacles to increasing the number of Need to Sell acceptances on phase 2b of the High Speed 2 project; and if he will make a statement.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: There is no obvious reason that acceptance rates under the Need to Sell scheme are lower on the Phase 2b route in comparison to other HS2 phases. The scheme operates identically across the HS2 route and applicants have to meet five published criteria in order to be successful. HS2 Ltd continues to improve support and guidance given to Need to Sell applicants and has run targeted workshop and surgery sessions for individuals in the honourable Member’s constituency at her request. It is considering rolling these out in other areas where acceptance rates are lower than average. All HS2 property schemes are being reviewed to ensure they are fair, efficient and deliver value for money. The review is expected to conclude later this year.

Stagecoach Group

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will disqualify Stagecoach from bidding for (a) the east coast main line and (b) all future rail franchise contracts.

Joseph Johnson: The Passport pre-qualification system was put into place in 2015 – all Passports awarded under this system, including the Stagecoach Passport last for a four year period and are kept under review. In line with this published process, Stagecoach’s eligibility to bid for current and future franchise competitions remains under review.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will issue guidance to local highway authorities to ensure they have comprehensive and effective programmes to identify and repair potholes that require urgent attention.

Jesse Norman: Guidance to local highway authorities to ensure they can identify and repair potholes that require urgent attention is set out in the Well Managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice, which is issued by UK Roads Liaison Group and endorsed by the Department for Transport. The Code provides guidance on areas including preventative maintenance and ensuring authorities are delivering “right first time” repairs. The guidance can be found here:http://www.ukroadsliaisongroup.org/en/utilities/document-summary.cfm?docid=4F93BA10-D3B0-4222-827A8C48401B26AC

A303: Stonehenge

Alex Burghart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the potential effect on the Blick Mead archaeological site of the proposed alterations to the A303 around Stonehenge.

Jesse Norman: Blick Mead is outside the existing highway boundary for the A303 and on land that will not be disturbed by the scheme. Even so, Blick Mead is included in the extensive Heritage Impact Assessments that Highways England are carrying out to ensure the scheme brings benefits without creating an unacceptable impact on important local features. As part of the development of the scheme, Highways England have been carrying out hydro-geological modelling of groundwater flows. This suggests that there will not be any adverse effects on the Blick Mead spring. This finding has been reported in the scheme’s Preliminary Environmental Information Report (February 2018), which was issued as part of the public consultation material.

Roads: Stonehenge

Alex Burghart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 April 2018 to Question 138336 on Roads: Stonehenge, if he will publish the terms of reference of the archaeological surveys planned by the independent Scientific Committee; and when he plans to publish the results of those surveys.

Jesse Norman: The Terms of Reference of the archaeological surveys for the A303 Stonehenge project, in relation to works affecting the World Heritage Site (WHS), are set out in a series of Written Schemes of Investigation (WSIs). WSIs are produced for each site on the scheme before any work is started, and are working documents that will undergo a number of updates throughout the lifetime of the surveys to encompass additional requirements identified as the work progresses. There is also a high level overarching WSI for the whole scheme. The initial WSIs will be published on the Scientific Committee’s website by the end of this month (http://a303scientificcommittee.org.uk). The final iteration of each individual WSI will also be published alongside the survey results, to outline in full the investigations that were found to be required. The reporting of the surveys in the WHS is likely to be finalised in the autumn when it will be published on the Scientific Committee’s website, alongside the already published archaeological survey reports that have been completed to date in relation to the WHS.

Railways: Franchises

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to review his Department’s policy on the performance management of rail franchises.

Joseph Johnson: The Department holds Train Operating Companies to account through its contractual mechanisms, and meets regularly with operators to review performance levels and plans for improvements. It also works closely with ORR, in its role as regulator, in overseeing Network Rail’s performance levels. The department has also increased its engagement across industry to promote industry sharing of good practice and a top down focus on the day to day performance of the railway. In addition we require all bidders for new rail franchises to describe how they will work in an integrated manner with Network Rail to achieve better performance for passengers.

Railways: Passengers

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to (a) assess the effectiveness of and (b) improve the Department’s processes for rail passenger demand forecasting.

Joseph Johnson: The Department continuously assesses the performance of its forecasts and seeks to improve them by commissioning research, as well as reviewing work completed elsewhere, to ensure that we are using the latest available evidence. The Department assesses the performance of its forecasts by carrying out “backcasting” exercises, whereby our forecasting technique is applied historically to see how the forecasts compare to actual passenger numbers. Some backcasts were published in the Rail Demand Forecasting Estimation study phase 2 report (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/610059/phase2-rail-demand-forecasting-estimation-study.pdf ). Further, the Department carries out peer reviews on new forecasting evidence, and compares its techniques to those used by other rail forecasting bodies, as well as learning from other industries. The Department endeavours to improve its rail forecasting by commissioning research and collaborating with industry partners and others in the Passenger Demand Forecasting Council (PDFC). PDFC have recently revised their evidence base in a new version of the Passenger Demand Forecasting Handbook.

Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern Rail Franchise

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons he decided not to cancel Govia Thameslink’s contract to operate the TSGN route in early 2017.

Joseph Johnson: Performance has improved for Govia Thameslink Railway passengers following the height of industrial action. The Department decided enforcement measures through a remedial plan was the appropriate course of action.

Heathrow Airport: Railways

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential economic benefit to the South West of the proposed Western Rail Access to Heathrow.

Joseph Johnson: A new Western Rail Link to Heathrow would substantially reduce rail journey times to Heathrow for passengers from the Thames Valley, South Coast, South West, South Wales and West Midlands, eliminating the need to change at London Paddington and encouraging modal shift. In addition to benefits for airport passengers and workers, the proposed link would provide a real boost to the economy, generating economic growth and new jobs across the Thames Valley and surrounding areas.

Network Rail: Standards

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Office for Rail and Road’s plans to monitor Network Rail’s (a) unit costs and (b) productivity at route level in Control Period 6.

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) incentives and (b) disincentives the Office for Rail and Road proposes to bring forward in CP6 to ensure improvements to Network Rail’s (i) unit costs and (ii) productivity in Control Period 6.

Joseph Johnson: The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has made significant changes to its regulatory approach to inform the planning for CP6, with an increased emphasis on route-level regulation of Network Rail and bottom-up appraisals of the deliverability and efficiency of its plans. These changes will increase transparency, creating stronger incentives on Network Rail to ensure improvements to its unit costs, efficiency and productivity, as well as to further improve the ORR’s ability to monitor Network Rail and hold it to account. The Government is working closely with the ORR to support these changes and improve the efficiency of the railway, whilst being mindful of the ORR’s statutory independence from Government and its accountability to Parliament for the effective delivery of its functions.

Roads: Construction

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has taken steps to commission a strategic environmental assessment for the proposed routes for the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway.

Jesse Norman: The Oxford to Cambridge Expressway will be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment. A Strategic Environmental Assessment will not be required.

High Speed Two: Correspondence

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost to the public purse was of the administrative error that resulted in personalised envelopes and communications being sent to people in Garthdee and Ferryhill in Scotland on work due to take place in Calvert in Buckinghamshire.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: I can confirm that there will be no cost incurred by the taxpayer as a result of this error. The supplier responsible for distributing notifications will cover the cost of the original erroneous correspondence.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what change there was in the level of UK emissions in March 2018 compared with March in each of the last five years.

Claire Perry: The Department does not estimate greenhouse gas emission changes on a monthly basis. Our latest annual emissions estimates, published in March, show estimates of total UK greenhouse gas emissions for years 1990-2017. From 2012-2017 these were as follows: Year201220132014201520162017 (p)UK GHG emissions (MtCO2e)568552511492468456Note:Final 2017 emissions will be published in February 2019Provisional 2018 emissions will be published in March 2019. Source: Provisional UK greenhouse gas emissions national statistics 2017https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/provisional-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-national-statistics-2017

Energy and Climate Change

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has plans to negotiate the inclusion of text on climate and energy in the political declaration on the framework for the future relationship that will form part of the European Commission's Draft Agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that there is continued cooperation with the EU on climate change after the UK leaves the EU.

Claire Perry: The agreement governing our future relationship with the EU can only be legally concluded once the UK has left the EU. Article 50 sets out that the Withdrawal Agreement should take account of the framework of the future relationship with the EU, so at the same time as we negotiate the Withdrawal Agreement, we will seek to articulate our ambition for a deep and special partnership with the EU. Whatever the nature of the future UK-EU relationship, the UK will remain committed to international efforts to tackle climate change and working closely with the EU on such global challenges will remain very important.

Employment: Breastfeeding

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will amend the Equality Act 2010 to require employers to (a) allow paid breaks for breastfeeding mothers, (b) provide facilities for them to feed and store milk and (c) produce a formal written policy on breastfeeding.

Andrew Griffiths: There are clear legal requirements on employers in relation to workplace risk assessments and women who have recently given birth. Under Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR), employers and self-employed people must assess the health and safety risks arising out of their work. Under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, employers must provide suitable rest facilities. Employers must provide suitable rest facilities for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. The Health and Safety Executive has recently completed a review of its guidance for employers and workers, including pregnant women and new mothers. The guidance, “New and expectant mothers who work”, contains a clear recommendation that employers provide a private, healthy and safe environment for nursing mothers to express and store milk. It makes clear that it is a mother’s decision whether she wishes to breastfeed on her return to work. The guidance also suggests that written notification from a woman that she is pregnant or breastfeeding can prompt the employer to revisit their risk assessment to identify if they need to do more to avoid exposing the mother or baby to risk.

Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme: Costs

John McNally: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the cost of non-domestic renewable heat incentive subsidies was in each of the last three years.

Claire Perry: The cost of the Non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive scheme was: Financial year2015/162016/172017/18Non-domestic payments£296£443m£612m Note that the 2017/18 figure uses the latest available payment information and is correct up to end February 2018.

Biofuels

John McNally: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of the total biomass used to produce energy in the last year came from (a) domestically sourced wood and (b) imported wood.

Claire Perry: In 2016 (the latest year for which data are available), the UK energy demand for biomass was 8,542 thousand tonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe). Of this,a) 46 per cent (3,935 ktoe) was domestically sourced wood, and;b) 36 per cent (3,071 ktoe) was imported wood. 2016ktoeWood[1]Other biomassTotalProduction3,9351,6305,565Imports3,071413,112Exports-1350-135Total supply6,8711,6708,542Source: Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) 2017, table 6.1[2] [1] Wood includes waste wood, wood, and wood pellets[2] An estimate has been made for the proportion of wood pellets included in the plant biomass category in DUKES

Electricity: Republic of Ireland

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on maintaining the single electricity market with the Republic of Ireland after the UK leaves the EU.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Irish Government on maintaining the single electricity market after the UK leaves the EU.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on maintaining the single electricity market with the Republic of Ireland after the UK leaves the EU.

Claire Perry: As set out in August 2017 in the UK position paper on Northern Ireland and Ireland, and reiterated in my rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s Mansion House speech, the Government wants the single electricity market to continue to operate across Ireland and Northern Ireland after EU exit. We continue to work across Government and with our EU partners to achieve this aim.

Energy Supply

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of levels of energy (a) security and (b) availability in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

Claire Perry: The Government is committed to making sure consumers have secure, affordable and clean energy now and in the future. The Capacity Market delivers secure supplies of electricity to homes and businesses and will continue to do so after Brexit. The GB gas market is one of the most liquid and developed markets in the world and provides security through diversity of supply, the majority of which does not depend on a relationship with the EU. The Government is currently considering all aspects of its future relationship with the EU, including the arrangements for trading energy with the EU. However, energy security remains a priority, not just for the UK but for the whole of Europe, and we will work both domestically and with our trading partners to ensure that we have the energy we need.

Electricity Interconnectors: Republic of Ireland

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU single market and Customs Union on the energy interconnector between the UK and Ireland.

Claire Perry: The Government’s priority is to maintain affordable, clean, and secure energy supplies for businesses and households. We share the EU’s ambition to make energy trading easier and more efficient by opening up national markets, and increasing the level of interconnection between them, including between all parts of the UK and Ireland. We want to continue arrangements that allow efficient trade of electricity to take place between the Ireland-Northern Ireland single electricity market and Great Britain, and to closely collaborate on current and future regulatory and technical arrangements. Outcomes relating to the EU Single Market and the Customs Union are matters for negotiations, and we are unable to comment on this until negotiations conclude.

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he supports the UK offshore wind industry’s ambition to produce one third of UK electricity from offshore wind by 2030.

Claire Perry: The UK has the largest installed offshore wind capacity in the world, with around 7GW operational. This will rise to around 10GW by 2020, when we expect offshore wind to provide around 10% of the UK’s annual electricity generation. As set out in the Clean Growth Strategy, the Government is working with industry as they develop their proposal for an ambitious Sector Deal for offshore wind, which could result in 10 gigawatts of new capacity, with the opportunity for additional deployment if this is cost effective, built in the 2020s.

Carbon Emissions

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to meet new international climate change targets of net zero emissions.

Claire Perry: We will seek the Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC) advice on the implications of the Paris Agreement for the UK’s long-term targets, after the release of the IPCC Special Report later this year. We will consider the CCC’s advice carefully when it is received.

Carbon Emissions

Anna McMorrin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to expand the UK’s mandatory carbon reporting to capture a larger set of reporting companies.

Claire Perry: The Government consultation on Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) closed on the 4th January 2018. The consultation document included questions on expanding the reporting framework to require more companies to report their energy use and carbon emissions than are currently required to do so. It recognised that more consistent disclosure of energy use and carbon emissions would raise awareness of energy efficiency, and could improve transparency for investors, providing the market with useful information. We intend to publish the Government response by the summer recess.

Taxation: Environment Protection

Anna McMorrin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government is planning to issue green bonds to finance the 25 Year Environmental Plan.

Claire Perry: Before issuing a new type of sovereign bond, such as a green bond, the Government would need to be satisfied that they would provide cost-effective financing for the taxpayer, and there would be sustainable demand. The UK’s private sector green bond market is already well established, facilitated by the London Stock Exchange’s comprehensive specialist offering. There are now over 65 green bonds listed on the LSE in seven currencies, worth over $20 billion.

Exports: Standards

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether UK exporters of industrial products within the EU that currently rely on conformity assessments carried out by a UK Notified Body will (a) be required to apply for new certificates issued by an EU27 Notified Body after the UK has exited the EU and (b) be provided with UK Government support to manage the effect on their business caused by changes to conformity assessment procedures when exporting to the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Andrew Griffiths: We recognise the important role that UK Notified Bodies play in ensuring that products that enter the UK and EU markets are safe and conform to relevant requirements and assessments. We have reached agreement with the EU on the terms of an implementation period, during which market access will continue on current terms. This means that businesses will be able to operate with the same certificates as now up until the end of this period, including those issued by UK Notified Bodies. Regarding our future partnership with the EU, we want to ensure that UK companies have the maximum freedom to trade with European markets. We continue to engage with UK stakeholders to understand and represent their concerns as we develop our negotiating position.

Offshore Industry: Innovation

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his Department’s policy is on supporting new technologies in the oil and gas sector.

Claire Perry: The Government has co-funded a £250 million Aberdeen City Region Deal, jointly with Scottish Government, which included a UK contribution of £90m over 10 years for the Oil and Gas Technology Centre. Not only will the technology being identified and deployed at the Oil and Gas Technology Centre help to unlock the remaining potential in the North Sea, it will also help to anchor the supply chain in the UK, create a culture of innovation and lead to world class exports.

Oil: Licensing

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he has received on varying the terms of Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence 189.

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he has received on extending the initial term of the Work Commitment for Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence 189.

Claire Perry: The responsibility for onshore oil and gas licensing, including responsibility for extending a PEDL was transferred to the independent Oil and Gas Authority in 2016. As such the OGA is responsible for handling any representations regarding licences.

Oil: Licensing

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to issue a third extension to Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence 189; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: The responsibility for onshore oil and gas licensing, including responsibility for extending a PEDL was transferred to the independent Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) in 2016. Consequently any decisions relating to variations to licences will be made by the OGA.

Energy

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which (a) principal and (b) parish councils have set up (i)by themselves and (ii) with others local energy generation schemes.

Claire Perry: The Department does not hold a register of local authority local energy schemes. National Planning Policy Guidance and Planning Policy Guidance stipulate that plans should provide a positive strategy for renewable and low carbon energy and heat. Planning authorities should support community-led initiatives for renewable and low carbon energy, including developments outside areas identified in local or strategic plans that are being taken forward through neighbourhood planning. In 2017, the Clean Growth Strategy, which supports the Industrial Strategy, announced a Local Energy Programme, which supports local actors, community groups, local authorities and combined authorities to develop their own energy strategies and deliver their own energy programmes.

Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what direct engagement takes place between the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate and agency workers.

Andrew Griffiths: The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS) engages directly with agency workers in relation to specific complaints. During the financial year 2016/17, EAS responded to 828 enquires from agency workers directly. EAS has also engaged directly with agency workers through their representatives.

Property: Ownership

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the planned timetable is for the establishment of a public register of beneficial ownership information for companies and other legal entities outside of the UK that own or buy property in the UK.

Andrew Griffiths: A Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS425) was published on 24 January 2018 confirming the timetable for the establishment of a public register of beneficial owners of non-UK entities that own or buy property in the UK or participate in UK Government procurement. The Government will publish a draft Bill before the summer recess this year and intends to introduce the Bill to Parliament early in the second session. Following Royal Assent and the making of secondary legislation, the Government intends that the register will be operational in 2021.

Employment: Insurance

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential effectiveness of introducing legislation in order to prevent the use of employer-mandated insurance as a means of controlling the activities of workers in the gig economy.

Andrew Griffiths: This Department has not made a specific assessment of the potential effectiveness of introducing legislation in order to prevent the use of employer-mandated insurance as a means of controlling the activities of workers in the gig economy. We are currently consulting on the recommendations of the Taylor Review and will ensure employment law and practices keep pace with modern ways of working whilst striking the right balance between flexibility and worker protection.

Shop Direct Group: Greater Manchester

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Minister for the Northern Powerhouse on the Shop Direct closure in Greater Manchester.

Andrew Griffiths: I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues, including the Minister for the Northern Powerhouse (Jake Berry). Government is responding to the Shop Direct closures and has held a number of conversations with various parties to ensure proper processes are followed and employee rights are upheld. We will continue to engage with relevant parties as appropriate. My rt. hon Friend the Secretary of State has already met with the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth (Debbie Abrahams) about Shop Direct and will be having a further meeting with her in due course.

Fire Regulations

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2018 to Question 138105, whether regulations pertaining to fire safety are included within those assessed for the business impact target.

Andrew Griffiths: The Government is currently considering its approach to setting the scope for the Business Impact Target for the current Parliament.

Steel Council

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he next plans to convene a Steel Council.

Richard Harrington: As part of our on-going engagement with the steel industry, I can confirm that ministers and officials regularly engage with the steel producers, unions, trade associations, devolved administrations, the European Commission and our partners in the G20 Global Steel Forum, to discuss a range of issues concerning the steel industry.

Industry: Innovation

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the report, Mission-Oriented Research & Innovation: A problem-solving approach to fuel innovation-led growth, published by the European Commission on 22 February 2018, whether he plans to adopt a mission-based procurement approach as recommended in that report as part of the Government's Industrial Strategy.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We will ensure the UK benefits from world-changing economic trends to build the industries of the future. In our Industrial Strategy we have set out four Grand Challenges where Britain can lead the global technological revolution: in artificial intelligence and the data revolution; the global shift to clean growth; the ageing society; and the future of mobility – where we will build on our strengths to shape new markets and enhance the UK’s competitive advantage. As we made clear in the Industrial Strategy White Paper, we will use all the policy levers at our disposal, including government procurement, to achieve success in the Grand Challenges. We will drive innovation not only by supporting research and development, but also through the creation and shaping of new markets. Where appropriate, we will look to take a mission-oriented approach to guide these efforts, bringing industry, researchers and government together to solve practical problems and accelerate innovation.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the (a) cost to the public purse and (b) time-scale for setting up a British Global Navigation Satellite System.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the UK Space Agency's announcement on the development of a British Global Navigation Satellite System published on 2 May 2018, what contingency plans his Department has put in place in the event that the UK is denied access to data for satellite navigation.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Burma: Rohingya

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Burmese Government on the return of Rohingya to that country.

Mark Field: The Government has made it repeatedly clear throughout the current crisis that the Rohingya refugees who have fled into Bangladesh must be able to return to their homes in Burma safely, voluntarily and in dignity. The Foreign Secretary underlined these points when he met Burmese State Counsellor Aung Sun Suu Kyi on 12 February, and pressed Burma to agree a Memorandum of Understanding allowing the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to monitor any potential refugee returns process. The Minister for Asia and the Pacific reiterated these points when he summoned the Burmese Ambassador for a meeting on 6 March. The British Ambassador regularly makes these points in his meetings with senior figures in the Burmese Government, most recently with the Minister for the Office of State Counsellor on 5 April.

Taiwan: Foreign Relations

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Taiwanese authorities on improving diplomatic and commercial links with that country.

Mark Field: The UK does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. However, the UK enjoys a strong relationship with the Taiwanese authorities in the fields of trade, investment, education and culture. Recent visits have focussed especially on our commercial ties in Fintech, future manufacturing, infrastructure, offshore wind, smart cities, infrastructure and investment. For example, the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Taiwan, Lord Faulkner, led a nuclear decommissioning mission to Taiwan from 25-26 January, and a railway mission from 29-30 January. The International Trade Minister Graham Stuart visited Taiwan on 9-10 April.

China: Elephants

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on increasing the elephant population.

Mark Field: I have had no recent discussions regarding the elephant population in China with my Chinese counterpart. However my officials are in ongoing contact with Chinese officials and local Non-Governmental Organisations regarding animal welfare standards in China and the Illegal Wildlife Trade.We work with the European Commission, through the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), to promote the welfare of a range of species internationally. We will continue to encourage China, as a member of OIE, to meet the required standards.

Gao Zhisheng

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Chinese Government on the disappearance and current situation of the Chinese lawyer, Gao Zhisheng, who went missing in August 2017.

Mark Field: We are concerned by the case of Gao Zhisheng, who disappeared in August 2017. My officials met Mr Gao Zhisheng's daughter, Grace Gao, and representatives of a UK NGO in October 2017 to discuss his case.Gao Zhisheng was featured in a case list that we delivered to the Chinese Government ahead of the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue in June 2017. We regularly continue to seek further information on his situation.

Lee Ming-che

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the current situation of Taiwanese activist, Li Ming-Che, who has been sentenced to five years in prison by Chinese authorities for subverting state power; and what representations he has made with respect to that activist.

Mark Field: The FCO is aware of Li Ming-Che's case and in April 2018 my officials met his wife, Lee Ching Yu, who updated us on his situation. We have not made any recent representations to the Chinese authorities regarding his case.

Wang Bingzhang

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the imprisonment of pro-democracy leader, Wang Bingzhang, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by Chinese authorities in 2003; and what representations he has made in respect of that leader.

Mark Field: We are aware of Wang Bingzhang's case and my officials met his brother, Wang Bingwu, in April to discuss his situation. We have not made any recent representations to the Chinese authorities regarding his case.

Eritrea: Emigration

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Eritrean Government on the causes of emigration from that country.

Harriett Baldwin: The Foreign Secretary has not met with any Minister from the Government of the State of Eritrea. The Eritrean Foreign Minister last visited London in July 2017 when he met with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Permanent Undersecretary and with the then-Minister of State for Immigration at the Home Office. Both raised migration from Eritrea.

Burma: Minority Groups

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Myanmar on the treatment of minority communities in that country’s Rakhine and Kachin provinces.

Mark Field: The Foreign Secretary raised his concerns about the treatment of the Rohingya of Rakhine State when he met State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on 11 February. He pressed her Government to take action in Rakhine to ensure Rohingya refugees would feel safe to return, and to investigate allegations of human rights violations. The Minister for Asia and the Pacific reiterated these messages in his meeting with the Burmese Ambassador on 6 March.Following his visit to Kachin State in January 2018, the British Ambassador raised with the Burmese Defence Minister our concerns about renewed fighting and military restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian relief to ethnic Kachin communities. The Minister for Asia and the Pacific called on 28 April for the Burmese military to show restraint and to protect civilians in Kachin following the recent surge in fighting between the military and the Kachin Independence Army.

Russia: Football

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of UK citizens that will travel to Russia for the 2018 World Cup.

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number of UK citizens that have cancelled a visit to Russia for the World Cup as a result of security concerns after the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal and his daughter.

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be in Russia for the duration of the 2018 World Cup to provide assistance to UK citizens.

Harriett Baldwin: We know that FIFA have estimated that approximately 30,000 tickets have been applied for by UK residents. We are working closely with the FA, Supporters Groups, and the Russian organising committee to get the most accurate data on fan numbers and fan movements to ensure we have sufficient numbers of Embassy staff to support them. We have held discussions with fans, the Football Association, and supporters’ groups following the attack in Salisbury. UK citizens are not required to notify the Government if they change their plans. We encourage fans attending the tournament to stay up to date with our Travel Advice. We will attempt to reinforce the number of staff in Russia and London to support British nationls travelling to the tournament, and we will have consular staff based in every city that England will play in.

Russia: Travel Information

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many updates have been made to the Be on the Ball travel advice since June 2017; and on what dates those updates were published.

Harriett Baldwin: We are keeping our Be on the Ball travel advice for the 2018 World Cup under regular review. Since the page was first published in June 2017, we have issued five updates to date, on 14 November, 1 December, 15 February, 21 March and 6 April. We encourage travelling fans to keep up to date with the campaign and our Travel Advice for Russia. We will continue to issue updates in the build-up and during the tournament.

Iran: Baha'i Faith

Mrs Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Iranian government on the 1991 policy which requires that Baha’i students are blocked from admission to universities or expelled once it becomes known that they are Baha’is; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The human rights situation in Iran is of serious concern. This includes the treatment of Baha'i students following the 1991 memorandum. The Foreign Secretary raised our human rights concerns with the Iranian Government during his visit to Iran on 9-10 December, as did I during Iranian Foreign Minister Aragchi's visit to London in February this year.

Sudan: Chemical Weapons

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Sudanese Government on its alleged use of chemical weapons; and what steps the Government is taking to ensure that those allegations are investigated.

Harriett Baldwin: The British Government, alongside other states, encouraged the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to look into allegations of chemical weapons use made by Amnesty International in October 2016. The OPCW asked the Government of Sudan, as a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention, to share all relevant information and offered its assistance in any investigation. The Sudanese authorities reported to the OPCW that their national investigations came across no evidence of chemical weapon use in the Jebel Marra region. The United Nations has reported that the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) had not come across any evidence of chemical weapons use in Jebel Marra.

Israel: Palestinians

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2018 to Question 135976, by what criteria he has assessed that Israel's investigation into the killings of protesters in Gaza will be independent and transparent.

Alistair Burt: There is an urgent need to entrust the facts of what happened during the recent protests in Gaza. The UK is supportive of an investigation which establishes the facts about the recent violence in Gaza. Given the importance of accountability, we urge that any investigation is independent and transparent, its findings are made public, and if wrongdoing is found, that those responsible be held to account.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to make an assessment of the effectiveness of Saudi Arabia's investigation into airstrikes carried out in Yemen.

Alistair Burt: Saudi Arabia has publicly stated that it is committed to investigating incidents of potential concern arising from the air campaign in Yemen and that any lessons will be acted upon. The Saudi-led Coalition set up a Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) in May 2016 to investigate and report on such incidents. The JIAT continues to release the outcomes of its investigations. We welcome this. To date, the JIAT has announced the findings of a total of 55 investigations, with the most recent being released on 5 March 2018. Although the UK does not have a role in JIAT investigations, we have provided advice and support to the JIAT to help it strengthen its processes. Assessing compliance with international humanitarian law, is part of the UK’s arms export licensing process, which is one of the most robust in the world. We review all relevant factors including the effectiveness of measures to identify and learn lessons from incidents of potential concern.

Israeli Settlements: UN Resolutions

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to UN Security Council Resolution 2334 adopted in December 2016, what steps his Department has taken to distinguish in the UK's relevant dealings between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.

Alistair Burt: The UK’s Policy is to support a two-state solution: a secure Israel living side by side a viable and contiguous Palestinian state which is why we voted for UN Security Council Resolution 2334. The UK’s dealings with the state of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories reflect this policy.

Israeli Settlements: UN Resolutions

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the full adherence to and implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2334.

Alistair Burt: UN Security Council Resolution 2334 asks the Secretary-General to report to the Council every three months on the implementation of its provisions. We will continue to monitor the situation closely. On 26 March Nikolay Mladenov , the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, delivered his most recent report on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2334.

Horn of Africa: Migration

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much funding the Government is providing to the Khartoum process.

Sir Alan Duncan: UK funding to support the Khartoum Process goes via the EU's Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF). The EUTF's current funding window (2015 - 2020) for the Horn of Africa, including the Khartoum Process, is 1.2bn euros, of which the UK contributes approximately 15%.

Iran: Baha'i Faith

Mrs Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the report entitled Faith and a Future: Discrimination on the Basis of Religion or Belief in Education, published by Christian Solidarity Worldwide in February 2018, whether he has has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of that report's conclusions on discrimination against Baha’i students and school-children in Iran; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The human rights situation in Iran is of serious concern. This includes the treatment of Baha'i students and schoolchildren. We encourage the Iranian authorities to end discrimination against students from all minority backgrounds. The Foreign Secretary raised our human rights concerns with the Iranian Government during his visit to Iran on 9-10 December, as did I during Iranian Foreign Minister Aragchi's visit to London in February this year.

Department of Health and Social Care

Hospitals: Discharges

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) elderly and (b) vulnerable people are not discharged from hospital before adequate home care provision is in place.

Caroline Dinenage: Patients should only be discharged from hospital when there has been an assessment of the support they need to be discharged safely. This requires local health and care organisations to work together to ensure transfers between care settings are centred around patients and their carers. The requirements for National Health Service bodies and local authorities where patients are likely to have on-going care and support needs, such as elderly and vulnerable people who may need domiciliary support, on discharge from hospital are set out in the Care Act 2014 and the Care and Support (Discharge of Hospital Patients) Regulations 2014.

Lyme Disease

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to make turmeric available on the NHS to treat Lyme disease.

Steve Brine: The Department currently has no plans to make turmeric available on the National Health Service for the treatment of Lyme disease and is not aware of any peer reviewed evidence which supports the use of turmeric as a therapy for Lyme disease. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recently published its clinical guideline on Lyme disease, which provides the latest information for clinicians in diagnosing and managing Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection and most people recover completely with prompt antibiotic treatment that reduces the risk of further symptoms developing and increases the chance of complete recovery.

Organs: Transplant Surgery

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many UK citizens travelled to China for organ transplants in the last 12 months.

Jackie Doyle-Price: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for organ donation in the United Kingdom. To monitor the number of patients who have undergone transplant surgery abroad, NHSBT contacts transplant and satellite units annually to request details of patients who have been transplanted abroad and have then come to the UK for follow-up. NHSBT has no record of any UK citizen travelling to China for an organ transplant in the last 12 months.

Breast Cancer: Drugs

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the European Medicines Agency on patients' ability to access breast cancer drugs.

Jackie Doyle-Price: From 30 March 2019, the United Kingdom will no longer be a Member of the European Union. However, under the terms of the implementation period agreement regulatory standards and market access for all medicines, will continue on current terms. Regarding the future relationship, the Prime Minister's Mansion House speech outlined that we will also explore the terms on which the UK could remain part of the European Medicines Agency. While it would not be appropriate to pre-judge the outcome of the negotiations, we will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in medicines regulation. Our overall aim is to ensure that patients in the UK and across the EU continue to be able to access the best and most innovative medicines, including breast cancer drugs, and be assured that their safety is protected through the strongest regulatory framework and continued sharing of data.

Food: Labelling

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commission a study of the traffic light food labelling system including (a) a study of other countries’ labelling system, (b) consultation with the (i) food and drink industry, (ii) health and (iii) education professionals, (iv) local authorities and (v) representatives of parent’s groups and (c) the publication of that review's findings.

Steve Brine: We are considering the opportunities offered by exiting the European Union, which include giving us greater flexibility to determine what information should be presented on packaged food and how it should be displayed, and we will work alongside industry and other stakeholders to decide what will be next for labelling. We want to build on the success of our current labelling scheme and ensure we are using the most effective ways to communicate information to families.

Obesity: Children

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will amend the 2016 Child Obesity Strategy to ensure that future published stages adopt an approach that is (a) holistic and involves play and physical activity in addition to nutritional advice, (b) inclusive of measures for (i) antenatal (ii) postnatal and (iii) early years in addition to children in primary and secondary education and (c) comprised of a mixture of statutory and voluntary measures.

Steve Brine: Our childhood obesity plan, launched in August 2016, focuses on the areas that are likely to have the biggest impact on preventing childhood obesity. All reports and data published on progress in delivering our plan will be open to scrutiny. We will use this to determine whether sufficient progress has been made and whether alternative levers need to be considered.

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Gareth Snell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many clinical commissioning groups have levied fines against NHS Trusts for breaches of payment by results contracts in each year for which information is available.

Stephen Barclay: The information requested is not available.

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Gareth Snell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and which clinical commissioning groups operate a shared accountable officer.

Steve Brine: There are currently 33 joint Accountable Officers across 110 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England. Full details of these CCGs are listed in the attached table.



PQ139575 attached table
(Word Document, 26.2 KB)

Healthy Start Scheme

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to undertake a review of the cost of call charges to the Healthy Start voucher helpline.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Calls to the Healthy Start Issuing Unit cost no more than calls to standard United Kingdom landline phone numbers. An e-mail contact form is also available. The Department is currently exploring the options for the digitisation of the Healthy Start scheme. As part of this, we will consider the cost of call charges to the Healthy Start Issuing Unit.

Postnatal Depression

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report of the National Childbirth Trust,  The Hidden Half: Bringing postnatal mental illness out of hiding, published in June 2017 and NICE guidance, Postnatal care up to 8 weeks after birth, last updated in February 2015, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all new mothers are asked about their mental health by a GP at six to eights weeks postnatally.

Jackie Doyle-Price: This Government is committed to improving perinatal mental health services for women during pregnancy and in the first postnatal year, so that women are able to access the right care at the right time and close to home. The Department is investing £365 million to 2020/21 in perinatal mental health services, and NHS England is leading a transformation programme with the development of specialist perinatal mental health community services across England with their investment of £63 million between 2016/17 and 2018/19. We want to ensure that more women each year are able to access evidence-based specialist mental health care during the perinatal period. This includes access to psychological therapies and specialist community or inpatient care. The importance of this is reflected in both the NHS England ‘Better Births’ report of the National Maternity Review (2016) and the ‘Five Year Forward View for Mental Health.’ General practitioners (GPs) and primary care teams have a role in supporting the identification of perinatal mental illness and treatment, and are part of an integrated pathway of services. The Better Births report outlined that better postnatal care was a key requirement for improved maternity services. It recommended that women should have access to their midwife and obstetrician as they require after having had their baby, as well as the need to ensure a smooth transition to on-going care in the community from their GP and health visitor. Forty-four Local Maternity Systems have come together across sustainability and transformation partnership footprints to lead the transformation of local maternity services, and are developing plans to deliver the vision of Better Births, including the recommendations on better postnatal care. Additional national support will be provided through an Expert Reference Group, convened by NHS England, to identify further opportunities to support improvements to postnatal care.

Hernias: Surgical Mesh Implants

Eleanor Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has his Department made of the effect of removing the Patient Reported Outcome Measure on hernia repair on the commissioning policies used by Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Eleanor Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance NHS England has issued to Clinical Commissioning Groups for the development of commissioning policies for inguinal hernia repair.

Eleanor Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what criteria is used by Clinical Commissioning Groups to determine commissioning policies for inguinal hernia repair.

Eleanor Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care,  what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the recommendation made by Hernia Outcomes Campaign on the introduction of a watchful waiting policy for inguinal hernia surgery in that organisations report, Inguinal Hernia Surgery: Improving Patient Outcomes and Reducing Variation, published in November 2017.

Eleanor Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in what form will patient outcomes for inguinal hernia patients be recorded as a result of the decision by NHS England to discontinue the patient reported outcome measure for that treatment.

Eleanor Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will respond to the recommendations made in the Hernia Outcomes Campaign’s report, Inguinal Hernia Surgery: Improving Patient Outcomes and Reducing Variation published in November 2017, and will he make a statement.

Steve Brine: NHS England has advised that the Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) on hernia repair did not demonstrate significant improvements in quality of outcomes for many patients and was not implemented very widely. The Hernia Outcomes Campaign team are in discussion with the Royal College of Surgeons of England, with the British Hernia Society, the Getting It Right First Time team and NHS England about potentially constructing and testing a more useful PROM for hernia outcomes. NHS England has advised that no specific guidance is issued to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) regarding the development of commissioning policies for inguinal hernia repair. It is up to CCGs to decide how services are delivered at a local level and to decide the criteria that they use to determine their commissioning policies for hernia repair. In doing so, they are expected to take account of any National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Quality Standards that are relevant to this. Individual surgeons have a responsibility for assessing the outcomes of their operations and should make this information available in summary form to prospective patients to help them make effective decisions about whether or not to choose surgical treatment. A representative of NHS England has met with members of the Hernias Outcomes Campaign and discussed the contents of their 2017 report. NHS England concur that for patients with few symptoms an effective process of shared decision-making between patient and surgeon may well result in a choice not to opt for immediate surgery.

Hernias: Surgical Mesh Implants

Eleanor Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care,  how many inguinal hernia repair procedures has NHS undertaken in each Clinical Commissioning Group in each of the last five years.

Stephen Barclay: A table containing the number of inguinal hernia repair procedures undertaken by the National Health Service in England by clinical commissioning group of treatment for the years 2012/13 to 2016/17 is attached.



PQ139584 attached data
(Excel SpreadSheet, 32.52 KB)

Hernias: Surgical Mesh Implants

Eleanor Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients underwent inguinal hernia surgery in each region of England in each of the last three years.

Stephen Barclay: NHS England has advised that it does not collect data on the number of patients that underwent inguinal hernia surgery in each region of England.

Autism: Children

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure greater awareness among parents of the symptoms of autism in children.

Caroline Dinenage: The NHS Choices website provides information on autism. Health professionals such as general practitioners and health visitors may also be a source of advice for parents, before any formal referral for a diagnostic assessment is made. The Children and Families Act 2014 requires all local authorities to provide special educational needs and disability information, advice and support services for their local families. This includes information on autism support.

Mental Health Services

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients were referred to a mental health professional on the NHS in 2017.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information requested is not held centrally.

Female Genital Mutilation

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to improve training for health service professionals dealing with cases of female genital mutilation.

Jackie Doyle-Price: National Health Service organisations have a statutory requirement to ensure that staff are appropriately trained on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The document ‘Female Genital Mutilation: Standards for training healthcare professionals’ published earlier this month by NHS England builds on the existing safeguarding curriculum to detail the clinical skills required by various healthcare professionals to treat a patient where FGM is a relevant condition. When a competence is required, the standards also outline the level of knowledge and understanding which would constitute meeting that competence. The standards support NHS organisations to understand what their staff need to know about FGM, and support the development of local training strategies.

Health Services

Sir Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department's policy is on the establishment of health and wellbeing hubs in former community hospitals.

Caroline Dinenage: Community health services play a crucial role in preventing admissions, supporting safe transfers of care and reducing pressure on general practitioners. We know that patients prefer to be treated closer to home when they can be; and doing so prevents hospital admissions. Health and wellbeing hubs provide services which focus on areas such as health promotion and offer support within a person’s local community to meet their wider health and care needs. They are one of the models that we are using to keep people well and as close to home as possible. As population needs vary across the country and are influenced by a variety of demographic factors, transformation and service redesign is rightly being led by local areas. It is for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to decide on how to use their assets (including their estates) and structure the provision of health and care services in a way that is most appropriate for their local community. For some areas this will mean the introduction of health and wellbeing hubs, as seen in East Devon, whilst the structure may look slightly different in others. The underlying principle is that CCGs have the flexibility and independence to make that decision, and this is the approach the Department takes.

Drugs: Costs

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March to Question 131104 on Drugs: Costs, what assessment he has made of the cost of branded medicines (a) to the NHS and (b) in comparison with the health systems in other EU countries.

Steve Brine: National Health Service spend on branded medicines during 2015-2016 was approximately £11.2 billion. The Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) supports the NHS to improve patient access to clinically and cost effective medicines through the rigorous National Institute for Health and Care Excellence appraisal process, which plays important role in helping to ensure the best outcomes for patients with the resources available. This is coupled with industry making payments on branded medicines sales above an agreed growth cap. The statutory scheme provides a financial safeguard for the NHS, by providing controls on the costs of branded medicines to the NHS where a company has chosen not to join the PPRS. New regulations came into force on 1 April 2018, which amended the statutory scheme to align it more closely with the 2014 PPRS. In particular, the regulations replaced a system of price cuts with a payment system; the payment percentage introduced – 7.8% - is the same as the 2018 percentage in the PPRS. The Department does not make a formal assessment of branded medicines expenditure in comparison with other European Union countries, and some of the information necessary to do that is commercially confidential. Participation in the EURIPID pricing project ensures we receive regular information on initiatives across EU countries in relation to branded medicines pricing.

Life Expectancy

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment he has made of the UK's ranking in life expectancy at birth for (a) males and (b) females over the last eight years against that of other EU member states.

Steve Brine: In 2010, among the 28 European Union countries, the United Kingdom was ranked seventh highest for life expectancy in males at 78.6 years, 1.7 years higher than the EU average (76.9 years). For female life expectancy, the UK was ranked seventeenth highest for life expectancy at 82.6 years, 0.2 years lower than the EU average (82.8 years). By 2016, for male life expectancy the UK had reduced in rank to tenth highest at 79.4 years, 1.2 years higher than the EU average (78.4 years). For female life expectancy, the UK remained ranked seventeenth highest at 83 years, 0.6 years lower than the EU average (83.6 years). Data on life expectancy by EU country can be accessed via EUROSTAT database. Further information is available here: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database?node_code=tps00150

Consultants: Private Sector

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the monitoring of consultants in the independent sector who operate under practising privileges.

Stephen Barclay: Following a critical report by the Care Quality Commission about the quality and safety of care in the independent sector, the Secretary of State has written to Chief Executives of the leading Independent Sector Providers, setting out a number of areas that require significant improvements. The General Medical Council (GMC) is the independent regulator of all medical doctors in the United Kingdom. All doctors must register with the GMC to practise in the UK. All UK registered doctors are expected to meet the professional standards set out in the (GMC’s) Good Medical Practice. To maintain their licence to practise, a doctor must demonstrate, through the revalidation process, that they work in line with the principles and values set out in this guidance. Serious or persistent failure to follow this guidance that poses a risk to the public will put their registration at risk. The independent sector treats National Health Service patients as well as private patients, and it is therefore right that the Secretary of State addresses these issues directly.

Strokes

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the new national stroke plan for England.

Steve Brine: A national stroke plan is being developed by a group jointly chaired by the NHS England Medical Director, Steve Powis and the Chief Executive of the Stroke Association, Juliet Bouverie. It is expected to report in the summer, and is looking at how to improve stroke care across the whole pathway, from prevention, through to acute care and, critically, rehabilitation.

NHS: Disclosure of Information

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 20 March 2018 on NHS Planning in 2018-19, HCWS571, when he plans to lay before Parliament the NHS Mandate for 2018-19.

Stephen Barclay: The Government’s mandate to NHS England for 2018-19 was laid before Parliament and published on gov.uk on 20 March 2018. For the first time, the NHS Improvement remit letter was published in parallel, signalling the importance of these two arm length bodies working increasingly closely to maximise their collective impact.

Patients: Transport

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what research his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned on the effect of the length of distance a patient travelled to an A&E Department on the level of fatalities after admission.

Stephen Barclay: No such research has been undertaken.

Integrated Care Systems

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals for integrated care systems in the NHS.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department has no plans to legislate for integrated care systems.

Flour: Folic Acid

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing flour fortified with folic acid to (a) pregnant women and (b) children; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: No assessment has been made of potential merits of adding folic acid to flour on pregnant women or children. The recent report from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition made recommendations in respect of folate levels and developing foetuses. Ministers are currently considering the issue of mandatory fortification and will set out their position in due course.

Psychiatry: Children and Young People

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of child and adolescent mental health psychiatrists who have been hired in (a) Manchester and (b) the UK in each of the last five years.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information is not available in the format requested.

Dental Services: Children

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many children aged four and under in (a) Coventry North East constituency and (b) Coventry local authority area were admitted to hospital for a tooth extraction due to decay in each of the last two years.

Steve Brine: Data is not held on the number of children admitted to hospital for a tooth extraction. Data is held on the number of finished admission episodes (FAEs) with a primary diagnosis of dental caries and main procedure of tooth extraction. This data is shown in the following table. Count of FAEs with a primary diagnosis of dental caries and a main procedure of tooth extraction for ages between 0 and 4, within Coventry North East constituency and Coventry local authority area for the financial years between 2015-16 and 2016-17. YearCoventry North East constituency (FAEs)Coventry local authority (FAEs)2015-16592016-17**Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Digital Notes: A FAE is the first period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period. The data held in HES is a count of hospital attendances, not individual patients as the same person may have been admitted into a NHS hospital on more than one occasion. Data is not shown when numbers are five or less: *represents 1-5 counts of hospital attendances.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his Oral Statement of 2 May 2018, Breast Cancer Screening, what the timetable is for his Department to contact in writing, the 309,000 women affected by the failure of the breast cancer screening programme.

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his Oral Statement of 2 May 2018, Breast Cancer Screening, how many women have been affected by the breast screening programme failure in each clinical commissioning group area.

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his Oral Statement of 2 May 2018, Breast Cancer Screening, how many women who were not sent invitations for breast screening are estimated to have undetected breast cancer after being affected by the failure of the breast cancer screening programme.

Steve Brine: Public Health England will contact all the women affected living within the United Kingdom who are registered with a general practitioner before the end of May with the first 65,000 letters going out last week. All reasonable efforts will be made to find the remainder who have moved from England. Any woman who thinks she may be affected has access to a helpline through which they can get access to clinical advice to help them decide whether or not a screening is appropriate for their particular situation. Data on the number of women affected will be published by the end of May. There has been no modelling done on the number of women estimated to have undetected breast cancer after being affected by the failure of the breast cancer screening programme. By offering all women who were not offered their last screening the opportunity to have their final screen it provides the opportunity to detect previously unidentified cancers.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his Department intends to contact women who have moved to Wales who may not have been invited to their final breast screening due to computer failure as identified in the national breast screening programme in England; and what the timetable is for contacting those people.

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of women who have moved to Wales who may not have been invited to their final breast screening as a result of the computer failure in the national breast screening programme in England.

Steve Brine: NHS Digital is working with all the devolved administrations to reconcile their respective record to trace the women affected. Once identified, Public Health England will send the appropriate letter to each of the identified women by the end of May 2018. No assessment has been made on the number of women who have moved to Wales and may not have been invited to their final breast screening. NHS Digital is working with all devolved administrations to reconcile the record to confirm a number.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant his oral contribution on Breast Cancer Screening of 2 May 2018, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of other national cancer screening programmes; and what assurances he has received from organisations managing those programmes that no similar errors have occurred.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on contacting women who have not received a breast cancer screening since 2010.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department made of the effectiveness of the pilots that were run before the national breast screening programme was rolled out.

Steve Brine: The United Kingdom National Screening Committee has produced reviews on the effectiveness of screening for the following cancers; the breast, bowel, cervical screening programmes are effective. Prostate, lung, ovary, mouth, gastric, and bladder are not recommended as there is not enough evidence to suggest that they are effective. Further information is available at the following link: https://legacyscreening.phe.org.uk/screening-recommendations.php Public Health England will contact all the women affected living within the UK who are registered with a general practitioner before the end of May with the first 65,000 letters going out this week. The breast screening programme was started in 1988 and rolled out over three years. It originally invited women aged 50 to 64. Following pilots in the late 1990s screening was extended for women aged up to 70 between 2001 and 2006 in line with the National Health Service Cancer Plan. The Cancer Reform Strategy (2007) outlined plan to extend the age range of breast screening to offer screening to all women aged 47-73 years in England from 2012. However, to gather as much evidence as possible on screening the extended age ranges, the decision was taken for the extension to become a randomised controlled trial (AgeX). Further information is available at the following link: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/Browsable/DH_4990751

Prescription Drugs: Waste Disposal

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the value of unused prescription drugs returned to pharmacies and NHS outlets for disposal in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Steve Brine: Information is not held centrally on the value of unused prescription drugs returned to pharmacies and National Health Service outlets for disposal. The Department commissioned the York Health Economics Consortium and the School of Pharmacy at the University of London to carry out research to determine the scale, causes and costs of waste medicines in England. The report, Evaluation of the Scale, Causes and Costs of Waste Medicines, was published on 23 November 2010. This found that the gross cost of unused prescription medicines in primary and community care in the NHS in England in 2009 was £300 million a year and that up to £150 million of this was avoidable. The report is available at: http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1350234/ A number of initiatives have been rolled out which NHS England expects will directly impact on medicines wastage, including the deployment of clinical pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in general practice and also in care homes to undertake medicines reviews; and rolling out dose-banded chemotherapy drugs for cancer. In addition, work to address problematic polypharmacy and ensure appropriate de-prescribing, the establishment of a patient and public medicines adherence campaign and addressing variation through the use of RightCare principles will also contribute to a reduction in medicines waste. While recognising the importance of reducing medicines wastage from a value for money perspective, the key to securing a reduction in medicines wastage is implementation of the principles of medicines optimisation, ensuring that each patient receives the right medicine, at the right dosage, at the right time.

General Practitioners

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of GP practice nurses have received training in mental health.

Jackie Doyle-Price: All nurses receive mental health training as part of their pre-registration education. Curricula are set by individual education providers, to standards set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Once qualified and in employment, the responsibility for continuing and personal development for registered professionals rests with employers and those individuals.

General Practitioners: Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of General Practitioners have received training in mental health.

Jackie Doyle-Price: All general practitioners receive mental health training as part of their postgraduate general practice training, based on curricula set by the Royal College of General Practitioners, to standards set by the General Medical Council.

General Practitioners: Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of the national GP training curriculum is dedicated to mental health.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department does not hold information in this format. The curricula for training to become a general practitioner is set by the Royal College of General Practitioners, to standards set by the General Medical Council. The current curriculum includes a module on the care of people with mental health problems, and sets out competencies relating to mental health in modules on the care of other patient groups.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to rectify the problems in the IT systems for the breast cancer screening programme.

Steve Brine: Public Health England has completed rapid remedial work to rectify the problems which affected the breast screening programme.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May, 2018 to Question 138935 and with reference to the Answer of 26 May 2016 to Question 38904, to what he attributes the increase of 10,865 in the number of bed days lost due to delayed transfers of care in Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust in 2017 compared with 2015.

Caroline Dinenage: The change in the number of delayed transfers of care at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust between 2015 and 2017, disaggregated by the reason for the delay, is shown in the table below: Year20152017Completion of assessment931,886Public funding191541Waiting further National Health Service non- acute care4,6247,890Awaiting residential home placement or availability1,0181,542Awaiting nursing home placement or availability1,2973,025Awaiting care package in own home2,2655,051Awaiting community equipment and adaptations0466Patient or family choice2,3541,001Disputes65807Housing- patients not covered by NHS and Community Care Act0563Source: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/delayed-transfers-of-care/ During 2017/18, there have been a number of actions and developments put in place to help reduce delays at the Trust. These include the identification of onward care capacity, improvements in communication and relationships with care homes and the roll-out of pathways to support early discharge. The latest data for February 2018 shows that the number of delayed days at the Trust is now 1,200, a reduction of 1,052 delayed days compared to the same month in 2017.

Attorney General

Attorney General: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Attorney General, how many of his Department's invitations to tender have received no bidders in the last two years.

Robert Buckland: The Attorney General's Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

National Fund

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Attorney General, if he will make it his policy to disburse the monies held by the National Fund to good causes.

Jeremy Wright: The National Fund was set up by a trust deed in 1928. It is a charitable trust. The Fund is held on trust for the purpose of reducing the National Debt. The trustee is required to accumulate the income of the fund, and not to pay out any funds until the value of the Fund is sufficient to discharge the National Debt; the value of the Fund will continue to grow until such time as it is equal in value to the National Debt. According to expert evidence, there is no realistic prospect of the Fund ever amounting to a sum sufficient to pay off the whole of the National Debt. The question then arises: what actions can be taken to release the funds from the trust?The intentions and wishes of the person who originally set up the Fund, which were to discharge the National Debt, must be respected and borne closely in mind when considering this legally complicated issue.I have been working closely with the trustee of the Fund and the Charity Commission to resolve this issue. I will be able to provide an update on actions I will be taking regarding the future of the Fund shortly.

National Fund

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Attorney General, what restrictions are in place to prevent the National Fund being freed for use for good causes.

Jeremy Wright: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 8 May 2018 to his Question 140746.

National Fund

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Attorney General, what steps would need to be taken to enable the National Fund to be released for use for good causes.

Jeremy Wright: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 8 May 2018 to his Question 140746.

National Fund

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Attorney General, what assessment he has made of the timescale required for the National Fund be be of equal value to the National Debt.

Jeremy Wright: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 8 May 2018 to his Question 140746.

Department for Exiting the European Union

Energy: UK Trade With EU

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent discussions he has had with the EU on maintaining membership of the EU’s Internal Energy Market after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: At the March European Council the EU adopted guidelines on the framework for the future EU-UK relationship. Discussions on the future relationship are now being taken forward. As the Prime Minister set out in her Mansion House speech, while any agreement on our future relationship with the EU must respect the sovereignty of both the UK’s and EU’s legal orders, the UK would like to secure broad energy cooperation with the EU, including exploring options for the UK’s continued participation in the EU’s Internal Energy Market.

Borders: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent assessment he has made of the potential economic effect of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: The Prime Minister reaffirmed her commitments to the Northern Ireland and Ireland border in her speech at Mansion House, recognising the unique circumstances in Northern Ireland, and commitment to avoiding a hard border. The Joint Report also made clear that it is our intention to avoid a hard border and any physical infrastructure or related checks and controls between Northern Ireland and Ireland. We have pledged to translate all of the commitments made in the Joint Report we published with the EU Commission in December into a legally binding Withdrawal Agreement. This includes all of those on Northern Ireland and Ireland. We remain absolutely committed to doing so. We have always been clear that we will not agree anything that threatens the constitutional or economic integrity of the UK. We recognise the unique economic circumstances of Northern Ireland. Last summer we published a trade data and statistics paper alongside the Northern Ireland and Ireland position paper.

Agriculture: Scotland

Andrew Bowie: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he has met with representatives of the Scottish farming and crofting sector to discuss their priorities for negotiations for the UK's future relationship with the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: Ministers from across Government have carried out extensive engagement on EU exit - with businesses and industry bodies from all sectors of the economy and in all parts of the UK, including representatives of the farming and crofting sector.Details of Ministerial meetings are published in the Department’s Quarterly Transparency Returns, which are publicly available on GOV.UK.

EU Staff: British Nationality

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what  recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts about the effect of the UK leaving the EU on UK citizens employed by EU (a) institutions, (b) bodies and (c) agencies.

Suella Braverman: The Government recognises the contribution that EU staff with UK nationality make in supporting the work of the EU institutions, agencies and bodies. We are aware of the concerns of UK nationals regarding the security of their careers, and we do not want those working for the EU to be disadvantaged as a result of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. Ultimately, it is for the EU to decide their employment practices. The Government welcomes the recent announcement by the European Commission with regard to officials with UK nationality on aspects of their employment status post-exit. This is available online: http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/10061/2018/EN/PV-2018-2249-F1-EN-MAIN-PART-1.PDF. We hope that other EU institutions, agencies and bodies will follow suit to provide consistency of treatment of UK nationals working across the EU institutions. 



European Commission PV(2018) 2249 final
(PDF Document, 579.99 KB)

Galileo System

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on (a) UK access to the Galileo project after the UK leaves the EU and (b) a rebate for UK monies paid to that project in the event that full access is not granted; and if he will make a statement.

Suella Braverman: The Secretary of State, along with his Cabinet colleagues, has had discussions with EU counterparts which have included the UK’s relationship with the Galileo programme. The UK has made clear to our European partners our desire to continue the UK’s involvement in EU space programmes, including Galileo, provided that the UK can continue to access the requisite secure information, and that UK companies can continue to participate on a fair and open basis. Our negotiating teams have regular discussions on all aspects of the withdrawal negotiations. We will not be giving a running commentary on live negotiations.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Training

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what training his Department has provided to (a) general civil servants, (b) fast stream civil servants and (c) senior civil servants on devolution and inter-governmental relations; how many such courses have taken place; and how many civil servants have attended such training courses in each of the last five years.

Mr Steve Baker: The Department for Exiting the European Union has delivered the Devolution and Intergovernmental Working training courses on 11 occasions, to 74 staff since April 2017. A breakdown by grade is not available. These courses form a suite of learning and development opportunities within the Department for Exiting the European Union. Introduced in 2017 as part of Fast Stream policy learning, Fast Streamers take part in a mandatory Devolution workshop as part of their Induction offer. Fast Streamers are also required to complete the online 'Devolution and Intergovernmental Working' e-learning product as mandatory e-learning within their first year on the Fast Stream programme. All Fast Streamers within the Department for Exiting the European Union are expected to have undertaken both the e-learning and induction workshop. Civil Service Learning provide a range of central learning opportunities, including online and face-to-face training, for all civil servants on Devolution & Intergovernmental Working. The online Devolution & Intergovernmental Working module is for all new and existing civil servants, launched in November 2016. Through four online tutorials, video interviews with senior civil servants, and ‘take back to the office’ activities, it explains how the different governments operating in the UK work together, covering devolution settlements, decentralisation, City Deals and intergovernmental relations, as well as the ‘Devolution Memorandum of Understanding and Supplementary Agreements’. The half day face-to-face Devolution & Intergovernmental Working workshop is also available to all civil servants. Building on the above online module, delegates learn from experienced professionals who have worked on a range of devolution matters about topics such as confidentiality, when to seek legal advice and the boundaries of devolution, where reserved and devolved powers meet.

Customs Unions

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2018 to Question 139057, on customs union, whether he plans to ensure that the analysis is conducted and made available to hon. Members before any decision in the House on a final deal on the UK leaving the EU.

Suella Braverman: The Government has confirmed that when we bring forward the vote on the final deal, we will ensure that Parliament is presented with the appropriate analysis to make an informed decision. Given that we are yet to conclude our negotiations with the EU, it would not be practical or appropriate to set out the details of exactly how the Government will provide analysis on the various elements of the final deal.

Members: Correspondence

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, when he plans to respond to the letter of 29 March 2018 from the hon. Members for Birkenhead and for Ellesmere Port on the car and van manufacturing industry and the negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Robin Walker: This response has been dispatched. I responded on behalf of the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union.

Department for Education

Social Mobility Commission: Staff

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people are employed at the Social Mobility Commission.

Nadhim Zahawi: Holding answer received on 30 April 2018



Six civil servants are presently employed as the secretariat of the Social Mobility Commission.

Children: Swimming

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will review the elements of the early years and primary curricula that include baby and child swimming; and if he will make teaching swimming part of early years and primary professional training with regular updates included in continuing professional development.

Nadhim Zahawi: Swimming and water safety is compulsory in Physical Education (PE) at primary level.There are no current plans to review the PE national curriculum requirements, which can be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-physical-education-programmes-of-study/national-curriculum-in-england-physical-education-programmes-of-study#swimming-and-water-safety. The Initial Teacher Training (ITT) criteria require that all accredited providers of ITT design their programmes to enable trainee teachers to meet the standards for Qualified Teacher Status which specify that trainees must demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge across the relevant subjects and curriculum areas. For primary teacher trainees this will include PE, of which swimming and water safety are integral to the programmes of study. The department does not set a minimum amount of training time for individual subjects for courses of ITT. This gives providers flexibility to design their programmes in a way that works best for them and for their candidates. The Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework does not mandate swimming, however it does set out that early years practitioners should support children to know the importance of physical exercise for good health. It is up to early years practitioners to determine how they should help children to achieve this goal.

Poverty: Sanitary Protection

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effect of period poverty on girls in schools.

Nadhim Zahawi: Officials at the Department for Education are in regular contact with officials in the Department for Work and Pensions about a number of issues including sanitary protection provision in schools. Ministers responsible for these issues are kept regularly updated. Our current sex and education guidance encourages schools to make adequate and sensitive arrangements to help girls to cope with menstruation, including requests for sanitary protection. In addition, schools teach pupils about puberty in science lessons, and many schools cover the topic through personal, social and health education. Schools have discretion over how to use their funding, and can make sanitary products available to pupils if they identify this as a barrier to attainment or attendance. We support schools in addressing the needs of disadvantaged pupils through pupil premium funding, worth almost £2.5 billion of additional funding this year alone. The recently published analysis of absence statistics shows that while absence rates amongst girls do increase after a certain age, there is no evidence to suggest that this is related to pupils being disadvantaged. This suggests period poverty does not have a significant, nation-wide impact on attendance. The Department for Education also collaborates closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which recently announced that through the current round of the Tampon Tax Fund the government will provide £1.5 million for the ‘Let’s Talk. Period.’ project, delivered by Brook Young People across England. The project will identify vulnerable and disadvantaged young women who struggle to afford sanitary products through the organisation’s existing community services and a network of local partners, including schools. The project will develop resources to educate girls about menstruation and hand out pre-paid cards allowing girls and young women in need to access free sanitary products at local distribution points. We will continue to communicate on a regular basis with all interested government departments and devolved administrations as we continue to keep this issue under review.

Disabled Students' Allowances

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2018 to Question 135864 on Disabled Students' Allowances, what assessment his Department has made of of trends in the level of reliance of disabled students’ on assistive technology.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Information on the use of assistive technology in higher education can be found in this 2017 report, commissioned by the then Higher Education Funding Council for England: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/rereports/year/2017/modelsofsupport/.

Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has plans to allocate funding for the celebration of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month in schools.

Nick Gibb: In January 2018 a Gypsy, Roma and Traveller stakeholder group was established to inform policy development related to raising the attainment of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils. This stakeholder group provides an opportunity to explore how events such as Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history month can help promote improved outcomes for this group of pupils.

Financial Services: Education

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will assess the potential merits of recommending adding to the school curriculum financial education which includes advice on filling out tax forms.

Nick Gibb: The Department has introduced a rigorous new mathematics curriculum, which provides young people with the knowledge and financial skills to make important decisions about mortgages, loan repayments, the importance of personal budgeting, money management and financial risks. In 2014, for the first time, financial literacy was made statutory within the national curriculum as part of the Citizenship curriculum for 11 to 16 year olds. Pupils are taught the functions and uses of money, the importance of personal budgeting, money management and the need to understand financial risk. Schools can include teaching about completing tax returns should they wish to, based on the needs of their pupils.

Education: Standards

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to tackle educational underachievement in working class areas.

Nadhim Zahawi: Educational achievement, irrespective of background, is at the heart of our commitment to make this a country where everyone can go as far in life as their hard work will take them. We recognise that children from poorer backgrounds may face additional challenges to realising their potential. Accordingly, we have spent over £13 billion since 2011, almost £2.5 billion this year alone, through the pupil premium to provide schools with extra resources to overcome barriers to learning that children from disadvantaged backgrounds can face. This complements our work to raise standards through much-needed reform to school curriculum, assessment and accountability. Since 2011, against a background of rising standards, the disadvantage attainment gap in England has narrowed by 10% at the end of both primary and secondary education. We look to schools to use this extra funding effectively. Research shows that a personalised approach, drawing on well-evidenced effective practice, generally produces good results. We commissioned the research published by the National Foundation for Educational Research and the Education Endowment Foundation to support school leaders’ decision-making. We have highlighted examples of effective practice through the national Pupil Premium Awards. We know there is more to do and, through our £72 million Opportunity Areas programme, we are targeting local and national resource in twelve areas facing social mobility challenges. We intend to drive up educational achievement and improve social mobility for the children and young people who live there. We will learn the lessons from this approach to share with other areas, so that children growing up in areas facing similar challenges have an opportunity to flourish and create a secure future for themselves.

Female Genital Mutilation

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure better reporting procedures in schools for suspected cases of female genital mutilation.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support his Department provides to schools to ensure that students and staff are able to (a) identify potential victims of female genital mutilation and (b) deal with such cases sensitively and appropriately.

Nadhim Zahawi: The government’s statutory safeguarding guidance for schools, ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, outlines the reporting procedures for female genital mutilation, along with other forms of abuse. All school staff should receive safeguarding training at induction and that this should be updated regularly. The Department for Education recently consulted on strengthening that guidance. We expect to publish our response to the consultation shortly.

Pupils: Greater London

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to close the deprivation attainment gap in (a) Lewisham borough and (b) London.

Nadhim Zahawi: The department recognises that children from poorer backgrounds may face additional challenges to realising their academic potential. £13 billion has been spent since 2011, with almost £2.5 billion this year alone, through the pupil premium to provide schools with extra resources to overcome barriers to learning that children from disadvantaged backgrounds can face. Since 2011 the attainment gap in England, as measured by the Attainment Gap Index, has narrowed by 10% at ages 11 and 16. Over 14,000 Lewisham pupils are eligible for support and last year their schools received more than £17 million through the pupil premium. In London over 373,000 pupils attracted the pupil premium, bringing an additional £437 million to their schools.The department expects schools to use this extra funding effectively. Research indicates a personalised approach, based on proven effective practice, often narrows gaps through improved results. Support has been developed for school leaders in their decision-making; guidance published by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) and the on-line resources maintained by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) have been commissioned and the department has highlighted examples of effective practice through our national Pupil Premium Awards. The NFER guidance is available to view here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-the-attainment-of-disadvantaged-pupils.The EEFs on-line resources can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-the-attainment-of-disadvantaged-pupils.

Schools: Expenditure

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average amount of (a) revenue and (b) capital funding for pupils in state (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in (A) Lewisham borough, (B) London and (C) England was in cash terms in each year since 2010.

Nick Gibb: The revenue funding allocated for primary and secondary education for each financial year from 2010 to 2018 for Lewisham local authority (LA), London, and in England are shown in the attached table. Funding is not allocated separately for primary and secondary pupils. Data on average capital funding and capital funding allocated to local areas prior to 2011-12 is not readily available. The Department’s total capital budget for education from 2011-12 to 2018-19 is over £39 billion, including budgeted spend for 2017-18 and 2018-19. Lewisham local authority has directly received around £158 million of core capital allocations from the Department for Education from 2011-12 to 2017-18 financial years and London local authorities over £2.9 billion. This covers condition allocations for maintained and voluntary aided schools, Devolved Formula Capital and basic need funding. It does not include other condition funding allocated directly to academies, sixth form colleges and Multi Academy Trusts within their area. Larger MATs receive allocations and often allocate funding across constituency and LA boundaries. Funding for smaller or standalone trusts and sixth form colleges is also not included, as they are instead eligible for funding through the annual Condition Improvement Fund. Additional funding is also available through centrally delivered programmes, including the £4.4 billion Priority Schools Building Programme Published data on capital allocations is available on the GOV.UK website.



Revenue_amounts_primary_and_secondary_education
(PDF Document, 9.17 KB)

Teachers: Sick Leave

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many days of secondary education have been lost as a result of teacher absence due to work-related stress in each of the last three years.

Nick Gibb: Holding answer received on 08 May 2018



The information requested is not held centrally. The ‘number of sickness absence days taken per teacher’ in state funded schools in England was 4.1 in academic year 2015/16, continuing a fall from 4.3 and 4.2 over the previous two years. This information is available in table 16 within the statistical first release ‘School Workforce Census in England, November 2016’ available to view here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-workforce.2016/17 information will be published in June.

Pupil Numbers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the school roll was of pupils at state schools in (a) West Sussex and (b) England; and what the school roll was in (a) reception and (b) sixth form for those schools in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Gibb: Information on schools and pupils is published at the annual ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistical release, available to view here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2017. The school roll of pupils at state schools in England and the school roll by year group can be found in Table 1d in the National tables: SFR28/2017.The school roll in (a) reception and (b) sixth form for individual schools can be found in the Underlying data: SFR28/2017 of the annual ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistical release, contained in file ‘SFR28_2017_Schools_NCYear_UD’. The figures can be filtered by local authority name (column H).Information for earlier years (from 2010 onwards) can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information his Department holds on the subject content of personal, social health education and citizenship teaching in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools; and if he will make that subject a statutory component of the national curriculum.

Nick Gibb: Schools can choose to teach Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE). Advice for schools on teaching of the subject can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-social-health-and-economic-education-pshe/personal-social-health-and-economic-pshe-education.The Department recently conducted an engagement process on the content of Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education, and on the status of PSHE. This involved a range of stakeholders and a public call for evidence. The Department plans to consult on draft regulations and accompanying statutory guidance shortly, before laying the regulations in the House for debate.Citizenship remains a National Curriculum subject at secondary schools and is encouraged at primary schools. The secondary programme of study can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-citizenship-programmes-of-study.The recommended programme of study for primary schools can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/citizenship-programmes-of-study-for-key-stages-1-and-2.

Department for Education: Disclosure of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many leak enquiries his Department has undertaken in the last two years.

Anne Milton: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Education: North of England

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding has been allocated from the public purse to the Northern Powerhouse Education Fund in each year since it was established; and what estimate he has made of the level of funding from the public purse to that Fund in each of the next three financial years.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Education: North of England

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much and what proportion of funding for the Northern Powerhouse Education Fund has been spent in each year since the fund was established.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Horizon 2020

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the implications for higher education providers of the reductions in Horizon 2020 EU research funding since the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016.

Mr Sam Gyimah: As joint Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation at the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), I am responsible for considering developments in research funding and the implications for higher edcation (HE) providers in England. The Office for Students, UK Research and Innovation, DfE and BEIS are working together to consider the potential impact of future developments in research funding on HE providers in England as part of wider work on financial sustainability. UK education establishments have continued to be successful participants in Horizon 2020. As set out in the Horizon 2020 Official Statistics published last month by BEIS, there have been over 5,000 participations in Horizon 2020 projects by UK HE establishments between January 2014 and March 2018. These participations have attracted €2.73 billion of funding. This represents around 27% of all Horizon 2020 funding awarded to such establishments to date. In December 2017, the UK and European Commission negotiating teams published a joint report on progress made during phase 1 of the negotiations. The joint report sets out that the UK and the EU fully intend UK participants’ eligibility in Horizon 2020 to remain unchanged for the duration of the programme.This includes eligibility to participate in Horizon 2020 projects and to receive Horizon 2020 funding for the lifetime of projects. The government’s underwrite guarantee of Horizon 2020 funding remains in place in the event that commitments enshrined in the joint report are not met. This guarantees funding for UK participants in projects ongoing at the point of exit.

Universities: Migrant Workers

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the (a) current and (b) future costs of (i) visas and (ii) permanent residency documents for overseas academics to work at UK Universities.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Department for Education officials meet regularly with Home Office officials to discuss a range of issues regarding overseas academic staff at UK universities Border, immigration and citizenship fees are reviewed on an annual basis. The current visa fees are set out in the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018. Full details can be found via the following link: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/330/pdfs/uksi_20180330_en.pdf.

Teachers: Training

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students are enrolled in Early Years Initial Training Courses.

Nadhim Zahawi: I refer the hon. Member for Batley and Spen to the answers given on 20 October 2017 to 108889, 16 January 2018 to 123170, 14 March 2018 to 132596 and 132601, and 13 April 2018 to 135478:https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2017-10-20/108889;https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-01-16/123170/;https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-03-14/132596/;https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-03-14/132601/; andhttps://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-04-13/135478/.

Children: Day Care

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to support parents of children under the age of 5 with the costs of childcare who want to undertake (a) further and (b) higher education courses.

Anne Milton: The Care to Learn scheme can help with childcare costs for eligible parents aged under 20 who meet Care to Learn residency criteria and are in receipt of publicly funded education or training. Care to Learn payments are not income assessed and a maximum amount that can be claimed is £175 per child per week in London and £160 per child per week elsewhere. Further details are available at: www.gov.uk/care-to-learn. For learners aged 19 and above, Learner Support is available to help those with a specific financial hardship that prevents them from taking part in learning. Colleges and providers have discretion to help learners meet costs such as childcare and travel. A Childcare Grant is available to full-time student parents in higher education using registered or approved childcare, so that childcare costs incurred while studying do not act as an additional barrier for lower income families accessing higher education. The grant helps with childcare costs for children under 15, or under 17 if they have special educational needs. The amount of Childcare Grant payable in 2018-19 will be based on 85 per cent of actual childcare costs, subject to a maximum grant of £164.70 per week for one child only or £282.36 per week for two or more children. Students are not entitled to receive a Childcare Grant if the student or their partner has elected to receive the childcare element of Working Tax Credit, the childcare element of Universal Credit, or is claiming support for childcare through the NHS bursary scheme. Students with children may also be able to receive the Parents' Learning Allowance to meet course related costs, and students with adult dependants may be able to receive an Adult Dependants Grant. The maximum amount of Parents Learning Allowance payable in 2018/19 will be £1,669 and the minimum £50. Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/extra-help. All three and four year olds and the most disadvantaged two year olds are entitled to access 15 hours a week of early education.

Day Care and Pre-school Education: Religion

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information his Department holds on the spending of funds from the public purse on childcare and early years education provided by religious organisations.

Nadhim Zahawi: The government funds local authorities to deliver the free entitlements in line with our regulations and guidance. It is the responsibility of local authorities to collect information from providers for funding purposes.

Ministry of Justice

Legal Aid Scheme: Asylum

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2018 to Question 135130, if he will make it his policy to ensure that all procurement areas have at least 2 legal aid providers of family law on 1 September 2018.

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2018 to Question 135130, if he will make it his policy to ensure that all procurement areas have at least 2 legal aid providers of housing law on 1 September 2018.

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2018 to Question 135134 on Legal Aid Scheme: Immigration, in how many areas one or fewer compliant tenders were received in response to the Legal Aid Agency's recent tender process; and if he will list those areas.

Lucy Frazer: The LAA seeks to maintain at least 5 providers holding a family contract per procurement area, to deal with conflicts of interest in public law family matters. The LAA currently has more than two in all areas and the following the tender for the 2018 Standard Civil Contract expects the position to remain the same or improve. Currently 93% of all procurement areas contain 5 or more providers. In most other categories of law where advice is delivered face to face to clients, the LAA seeks to maintain a minimum of one provider in each procurement area.The LAA received one or fewer compliant tenders in 6 Immigration and Asylum access points, as follows:Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth & Isle of WightCity of Kingston upon HullEast & West LancashireSwindonCity of Plymouth and DevonNorth East WalesThe Legal Aid Agency monitors legal aid provision, and where a gap is identified it takes appropriate steps to ensure clients have access to services. Clients are also able to access advice through the LAA’s telephone advice services.

Magistrates Courts: Operating Costs

Kevin Hollinrake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the annual operating costs were of (a) Harrogate, (b) Skipton, (c) Scarborough, (d) Teeside and (e) York magistrates' court in the last 12 months for which data are available.

Lucy Frazer: Total operational costs for magistrates’ courts in the financial year 2017/18 (£k): Annual Operating CostsStaff related costsOther operating costsHarrogate559282***277Skipton580***58Scarborough526246**280Teesside2,9962,080916York909442467‘* Staff and admin costs at Skipton are included within the figures for Harrogate, no disaggregation is possible.** These locations are co located and include county and family courts, the costs shown here represent the costs apportioned to the magistrates’ court.

Personal Injury: Compensation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish the full consultation papers and the Government’s response on the Personal Injury Discount Rate consultation which ran from 12 February to 7 May 2013.

Rory Stewart: The Government published the consultation paper: “Damages Act 1996: the discount rate: review of the legal framework” on 12 February 2013, and its response to the consultation on 30th March 2017. Both documents can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/damages-act-1996-the-discount-rate-review-of-the-legal-framework

Reoffenders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the re-offending rate was for each community rehabilitation company by category of offence in the latest year for which information is available.

Rory Stewart: In assessing the performance of Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) in reducing reoffending, the MoJ publishes quarterly proven reoffending statistics by CRCs for the cohorts of offenders they manage. These include the number of proven offences committed in the one year follow up period. Published headline figures are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/payment-by-results-statistics-october-2015-to-june-2017. Also published within this are interim figures which include the latest assessment of CRC reoffending rates before headline one-year figures become available. Statistics on the reoffending rates by category of offence are not routinely published, but I have attached a breakdown of offences for the April to June 2016 cohort which represents the most recent group for which finalised figures are available.



Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 22.89 KB)

Life Imprisonment

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average proportion of sentence served in prison was by (a) men and (b) women serving mandatory life sentences who were released from prison in the last year for which information is held.

Rory Stewart: We have taken the reference in the question to ‘average proportion of sentence served’ to be a reference to the average length of time served as a proportion of tariff in prison. This will comprise the offender’s original tariff period plus any additional time spent in prison prior to release by the Parole Board. The average length of time served in prison as a proportion of tariff by individuals serving mandatory life-sentences who were released in 2017 was:(a) Men = 146%.(b) Women = 113%.

Bail

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of (a) men and (b) women charged with common assault were granted bail in magistrates' courts in each of the last five years.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of (a) men and (b) women charged with assaulting a police officer were granted bail in magistrates' courts in each of the last five years.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of (a) men and (b) women charged with actual bodily harm were granted bail in (i) magistrates' courts and (ii) crown courts in each of the last five years.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of (a) men and (b) women charged with grievous bodily harm under s20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 were granted bail in (i) magistrates' courts and (ii) crown courts in each of the last five years.

Rory Stewart: The information can be found by selecting from the offence drop down boxes in the Remands – magistrates’ courts tool and Remands - Crown Court tool in the annual Criminal Justice Statistics publication, linked below. There is also a gender box and for magistrates’ courts please note that there is also information available on ‘gender not specified’ defendants. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2016

Suspended Sentences

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of sentences for each category of offence in (a) magistrates’ courts and (b) crown courts were suspended prison sentences in the last year for which information is available.

Rory Stewart: This information is available in the “Sentencing tool” at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2016

Legal Systems: Islam

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department gave any funding to sharia councils in the UK in each in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Lucy Frazer: The Ministry of Justice has not funded the operation of sharia councils in the last three years, as these organisations are not part of the justice system. Community organisations may apply to various Government Departments for a range of grants for particular purposes. A list of grant schemes run by government departments can be found at gov.uk. Information on whether sharia councils may have received such grants over this period could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Remand in Custody

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in how many and what proportion of cases involving common assault was a person remanded in custody prior to their conviction in each year since 2010; and what proportion of those offenders went on to receive an immediate custodial sentence.

Rory Stewart: The information can be found in the remands – magistrates’ courts tool and the remands – Crown Court tool in the annual Ministry of Justice Criminal Justice System statistics quarterly publication, linked below: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2016 Figures for common assault can be viewed by selecting 105. Common assault from the Offence classification drop-down. Select ‘Custody’ in the drop-down box: Remand status at the magistrates court / Crown Court. Those sentenced to immediate custody can be selected using the ‘Outcome’ drop-down boxes. Please note that figures for magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court have been presented separately because from centrally collated court proceedings data, it is not possible to determine a final outcome for those cases which were sent by magistrates to the Crown Court for trial or sentence.

Prisoners: Uniforms

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made an assessment of the equality implications of the application of the prison uniform policy to male and female prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the prison uniform policy is for transgender prisoners.

Rory Stewart: An equalities assessment underpins the extant policy on prison uniform. Transgender prisoners can present themselves in the relevant gender, which may include wearing their own clothes, subject to risk, security or operational assessments. We are currently reviewing the arrangements on prison-issue clothing with the intention of ensuring that in the future the national policy will treat male and female prisoners the same. As part of this work we are considering the equality implications for prisoners with protected characteristics (including transgender prisoners) and how we may mitigate any disadvantages.

Prisons: Standards

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisons and to which prisons his Department has issued improvement orders in each year since 2010.

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many improvement orders his Department has issued to each prison in each year since 2010.

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many improvement orders his Department has issued to prisons in each year since 2010; and for what reason each order was issued.

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisons have outstanding improvement orders.

Rory Stewart: The term ‘improvement order’ is not recognised but I have interpreted these questions as asking for details of formal improvement notices issued to prisons. Improvement notices are issued only to privately managed prisons as part of our robust contract management processes. Details of Improvement Notices issued since 2010 is provided in the table below. PrisonDate of Improvement NoticeReason Improvement Notice IssuedImprovement Notice outstandingHMP Rye Hill (G4S)12 March 2010Safety and SecurityNoHMP Rye Hill (G4S)29 May 2012Safety and SecurityNoHMP Oakwood (G4S)13 February 2013Safety and SecurityNoHMP Doncaster (Serco)12 August 2015Safety and SecurityNoHMP Northumberland (Sodexo)10 June 2015ProceduralNoHMP Birmingham (G4S)28 July 2016ProceduralNoHMP Birmingham (G4S)2 August 2016ProceduralNoHMP Rye Hill (G4S)23 September 2016Estate maintenanceNoHMP Birmingham (G4S)12 March 2018Safety and SecurityYesHMP Birmingham (G4S)12 March 2018Safety and SecurityYes   We are clear that prisons should be places of safety and reform, and are working closely with G4S to improve conditions for prisoners at HMP Birmingham. Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service has issued two improvement notices to HMP Birmingham which cover contract delivery and documentation. An improvement notice is a contractual mechanism to request an improvement plan to address concern in a given area. Privately managed prisons achieve the vast majority of their performance targets, and are an important part of our reform plans. We continue to closely monitor the performance of all privately managed prisons, and will take further action if and when required.

Prison Officers: Redundancy

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers have taken voluntary early departure in each year since 2010.

Rory Stewart: The number of band 3-5 prison officers who have taken voluntary early departure since 2009/10 can be found in table 11b in the latest HMPPS Workforce Statistics publication:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/her-majestys-prison-and-probation-service-workforce-quarterly-december-2017

Bank Cards: Fraud

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has a role in tackling credit and debit card fraud; and if he will make a statement.

Lucy Frazer: The Home Office has overall responsibility for economic crime including credit and debit card fraud. The Ministry of Justice supports this work and has responsibility for the criminal court system and criminal law reform.

Prisoners: Travellers

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what number and proportion of Gypsies and Travellers undertook a vocational training course whilst in prison for each of the last 5 years.

Rory Stewart: Data on the number and proportion of Gypsies and Travellers that have undertaken vocational training courses whilst in English prisons is not held by the Ministry of Justice. There is a wide range of vocational training available to prisoners. The prison governor is responsible for commissioning education and training based on the needs of learners in the prison establishment and the skills in demand by employers in the areas to which prisoners will be released.

Trials: Legal Representation

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in how many cases courts have prepared trial bundles in cases where one or more parties was not represented in each year since 2010.

Lucy Frazer: The information requested is not held centrally or locally.

Rape: Convictions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the conviction rate for rape involving (a) female and (b) male victims was in the latest year for which information is available.

Dr Phillip Lee: The “Criminal justice statistics outcomes by offence tool” provides data on the number of defendants prosecuted and convicted in England and Wales in 2016. This is set out within the Criminal Justice System statistics publication available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2016. In the case of offences of rape, data are broken down by the gender of the victim. The conviction ratio is the number of convictions divided by the number of prosecutions.

Registered Intermediaries

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department spent on intermediaries in each of the last four years.

Dr Phillip Lee: The Department does not centrally hold the information requested in this form. The Ministry of Justice manages the overall scheme, however the costs of Registered Intermediaries is picked up by police forces, the CPS and individual courts.

Eta

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what representations he has received from legal representatives of UK citizens on fair and equitable justice for UK victims of terrorists attacks by ETA.

Dr Phillip Lee: I am not aware of any such representations. I would be happy to consider any specific issues or concerns which the Honourable Member wishes to raise.

Special Educational Needs: Appeals

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many appeals there have been against Education and Health Care Plan decisions; how many such appeals have been successful; and what the cost to the public purse was of each appeal.

Lucy Frazer: Information about the number and outcomes of Special Educational Needs and Disability appeals including against Education and Health Care Plan (EHC) decisions, is published on gov.uk.The most recent statistics, for the period July to September 2017 (which includes data from September 2014 when EHC were introduced), published on 14 December 2017, can be viewed at:www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-july-to-september-2017The cost to HM Courts & Tribunals Service of processing an appeal to the Tribunal varies between £1115 and £2688 depending on the nature of the dispute to be determined.

Human Rights: EU Grants and Loans

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on which UK organisations receive funding from the EU Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme.

Dr Phillip Lee: The Ministry of Justice does not hold any information about UK organisations which receive funding through the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme. The programme is managed by the European Commission. Information about the funding programme can be found on the European Union’s website.http://ec.europa.eu/justice/grants1/closed-calls/index_en.htm.

Prison Officers

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers that work at prisons where the overall performance is rated as being of concern worked on detached duty at another prison at for a period in 2018.

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers that worked at prisons in special measures worked on detached duty at another prison for a period in 2018.

Rory Stewart: The latest available prison performance ratings data cover the period 2016/17 and are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/prison-annual-performance-ratings-2016-to-2017 40 prisons were rated as having overall performance of concern in 2016/17. There were the equivalent of 62 full time prison officers from these prisons working on Detached Duty at other public-sector prisons during January, 49 in February and 61 in March 2018. There were the equivalent of 16 full time prison officers from prisons in special measures working on Detached Duty at other public-sector prisons during January, 10 in February and 7 in March 2018. Detached Duty is one of the sensible and proportionate measures we take to ensure we run safe and decent regimes in prisons and respond appropriately to any operational issues that arise.

Employment Tribunals Service

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time was for an employment tribunal appeal hearing at each Immigration and Asylum tribunal hearing venue in each of the last 12 months.

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time was for an employment tribunal appeal hearing at each First-tier Social Security and Child Support tribunal hearing venue in each of the last 12 months.

Lucy Frazer: HM Courts & Tribunals Service does not separately record the information on the average waiting times for an employment tribunal hearing held at other tribunal venues. Employment tribunal cases would only be heard at other locations or tribunal hearing venues on an ad hoc basis, this could be because of a reasonable adjustment (used when putting something in place to remove barriers so our customers with disabilities have equal access to our information and services) or on direction of a judge.

Ministry of Justice: Training

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what training his Department has provided to (a) general civil servants, (b) fast stream civil servants and (c) senior civil servants on devolution and inter-governmental relations; how many such courses have taken place; and how many civil servants have attended such training courses in each of the last five years.

Dr Phillip Lee: All Civil Servants(a) Civil Service Learning provide a range of central learning opportunities, includingonline and face-to-face training, for all civil servants on Devolution &Intergovernmental Working.i) The online Devolution & Intergovernmental Working module is for all new and existing civil servants, launched in November 2016. Through four online tutorials, video interviews with senior civil servants, and ‘take back to the office’ activities, it explains how the different governments operating in the UK work together, covering devolution settlements, decentralisation, City Deals and intergovernmental relations, as well as the ‘Devolution Memorandum of Understanding and Supplementary Agreements’. 646 civil servants have engaged with the online training since it’s release:Started Completed Total Engagements StartedCompletedTotal Engagements2018673464132017531712242016279Total122524646 ii) The half day face-to-face Devolution & Intergovernmental Working workshop is also available to all civil servants. Building on the above online module, delegates learn from experienced professionals who have worked on a range of devolution matters about topics such as confidentiality, when to seek legal advice and the boundaries of devolution, where reserved and devolved powers meet. A total of 28 policy professionals have undertaken this training through two workshops, since June 2017.Both the online and face-to-face workshops are included in the recommended learning for all civil servants working in a role related to EU exit. The online learning is included in the new EU Essentials for Policy Professionals programme, for those new to policy making or the civil service; and the face-to-face workshop is included in the EU Policy Practitioner Programme for those with more policy experience. These programmes were launched in April 2018, with a total of 56 policy professionals undertaking the training programmes so far.iii) Also available to civil servants are the EU exit: devolution settlements and intergovernmental working events. Delegates hear the views of Permanent Secretaries, and other senior civil servants from the devolved administrations and territorial offices, on intergovernmental relations within the current political climate.Seven of these events have been delivered to 96 attendees across three Departments, since March 2017.Fast Stream(b) Introduced in 2017 as part of Fast Stream policy learning, delegates take part in a Devolution workshop, which all brand new entrant centrally managed Fast Streamers attend as part of their Induction offer. This was delivered in 2017 to over 800 Fast Streamers. We've also delivered four optional Devolution workshops as part of Fast Stream Policy Base Camp to 150 year 3/4 centrally managed Fast Streamers over the last two years. Fast Streamers are also required to complete the online 'Devolution and Intergovernmental Working' e-learning product as mandatory e-learning within their first year on the Fast Stream programme. SCS(c) Each nation of the UK leads and hosts an annual SCS conference to learn from each other and build networks across the Policy Profession. These have been held on 28/29 April 2016 in Cardiff, 20/21 April 2017 in Belfast (this included Irish Government Civil Servants too) and 26/27 April 2018 in Edinburgh. It will be for England to host in 2019. All of these events each have around 100 participants across the administrations.SCS(c) Each nation of the UK leads and hosts an annual SCS conference to learn from each other and build networks across the Policy Profession. These have been held on 28/29 April 2016 in Cardiff, 20/21 April 2017 in Belfast (this included Irish Government Civil Servants too) and 26/27 April 2018 in Edinburgh. It will be for England to host in 2019. All of these events each have around 100 participants across the administrations.Internal MoJ trainingWithin the last year, Ministry of Justice officials have benefitted from a range of devolution learning opportunities, including:learning sessions held by the devolution team, open to all staff, as well as tailored learning sessions for specific policy areas;comprehensive and current devolution guidance on the intranet, open to all staff;senior-official endorsed promotional material on devolution, on the Department’s intranet;regular ministerial updates on all devolution matters.MoJ staff have also held two “teach-in” sessions for the Welsh Government since November, providing an opportunity to talk to policy officials about the overlap between devolved and reserved matters in the Justice system; this has helped to build two-way capability and cross-government collaboration on devolution matters.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of appeals to tribunals in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England which related to (i) personal independence payments, (ii) employment and support allowance, (iii) income support, (iv) jobseeker's allowance and (v) tax credits were successful in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Lucy Frazer: The table below contains the requested information. Proportion1 of appeals decided in favour of the appellant for the period October to December 2017 (the latest period for which data are available)  PIP2ESA3ISJSATax Credits4  Coventry81%76%83%100%71%  West Midlands 567%59%50%36%29%  England 670%68%39%45%33% Notes:SSCS data is normally registered to the venue nearest to the appellants home address. We cannot retrieve data based on the appellants actual address, but can produce reports detailing the numbers of cases that were dealt with at one of our Regional centres or heard at a specific venue. %: Those found in favour of the appellant as a percentage of those cleared at a tribunal hearing.Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments)Includes Employment Support Allowance and Employment Support Allowance (Reassessments)Includes Working Family Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit.West Midlands includes the venues: Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Coventry, Nuneaton, Stoke, Telford, Hereford and Worcester.Excludes SSCS Scotland Region and Wales Region. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and is the best data that is available.The data may differ slightly to that of the published stats as this data was run on a different date.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average cost to the public purse is to administer a First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support Appeal) in respect of personal independence payments.

Lucy Frazer: The information requested is not held centrally. The cost of personal independence payment hearings is included in the overall cost of the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support Appeal).

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Colleen Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appellants in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England are waiting for the Tribunals Service to list their First-Tier Tribunal Social Security and Child Support appeal in relation to personal independence payments.

Lucy Frazer: As at 31 December 2017 (the latest period for which data are available) there were a total of 383 PIP1 appeals waiting to be listed2 in the Coventry venues; 2885 in the West Midlands3; and 26,774 in England4. Appeals waiting for a listing date to be allocated may include those which have already had an initial hearing, but have been adjourned (for example to obtain further evidence, or to allow the appellant or their representative to attend). 1 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments)2 Ready to List cases are those awaiting a tribunal hearing date, may include cases previously adjourned, postponed or those waiting to be reheard as directed by the upper tier. SSCS data are normally registered to the venue nearest to the appellant’s home address. We cannot retrieve data based on the appellants actual address, but can produce reports detailing the numbers of cases that were dealt with at one of our Regional centres or heard at a specific venue.3 West Midlands includes the venues: Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Coventry, Nuneaton, Stoke, Telford, Hereford and Worcester.4 Excludes SSCS Scotland Region and Wales Region Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system and are the best data available.The data may differ slightly to that of the published stats as these data were run on a different date.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of personal independence payment appeals have been successful at Tribunal in each of the last three years.

Lucy Frazer: Information about the number and outcomes of Social Security and Child Support appeals by benefit type, including PIP, is published on gov.uk. The most recent statistics, for the period October to December 2017 (which includes data from the previous three years), published on 8 March, can be viewed at:www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-october-to-december-2017

Compulsorily Detained Psychiatric Patients: Appeals

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of people detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 were discharged after being automatically referred to the First-Tier Mental Health Tribunal by (a) a hospital manager and (b) the Secretary of State in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Lucy Frazer: This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Compulsorily Detained Psychiatric Patients: Appeals

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of the proposals by the Tribunal Procedure Committee to abolish pre-hearing examinations in First-Tier Mental Health Tribunals.

Lucy Frazer: The Ministry of Justice agrees with the Tribunal Procedure Committee and awaits the outcome of the Committee’s consultation which closes on 14 June.

Department for International Trade

Saudi Arabia: Arms Trade

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what was the value is of UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia since 2010.

Graham Stuart: Holding answer received on 03 May 2018



Sales data by region for military exports are published annually on GOV.UK. at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-defence-and-security-export-figures-2016/uk-defence-and-security-export-statistics-for-2016The Government also publishes Official Statistics about export licences granted and refused on a quarterly and annual basis, which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-dataThe data, which includes export values for some licences, currently provides details of licences up to 31 December 2017. Information about the period 1 January to 31 March 2018 will be published in July 2018.However, licences granted are not necessarily a measure of sales or exports shipped in a given period as they are generally valid for between two and five years. Licensing data only provides a partial indication of sales as exporters only declare export values for a subsection of licences (Standard Individual Export Licences). Some licences expire before they are used and in these circumstances exporters must submit a further application, which can result in a significant element of double counting.

Department for International Trade: Training

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what training his Department has provided to (a) general civil servants, (b) fast stream civil servants and (c) senior civil servants on devolution and inter-governmental relations; how many such courses have taken place; and how many civil servants have attended such training courses in each of the last five years.

Greg Hands: The Department for International Trade (DIT) supports the whole of the UK, and we are committed to enabling our staff to meet our objective to support trade and investment in every part of the United Kingdom.DIT engages with the Cabinet Office’s Devolution and You programme which aims to build awareness of devolution and improve intergovernmental working through shared learning and knowledge exchange. For example, in recent weeks ten DIT senior civil servants attended a devolution workshop, with several more already signed up for a second workshop taking place in June. Fast Streamers can avail themselves of the training available for all staff. A DIT delegation participated in UK Government Interchange Week in 2017, and the Department hosted participants during the Interchange Week which took place earlier this year.In addition, DIT runs its own learning initiatives, for example during Devolution Learning Week, and is in the process of planning activity for this year’s event. DIT’s devolution strategy team provides advice on devolution for effective policy making and engagement.

Department for International Trade: Disclosure of Information

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, ow many non-disclosure agreements his Department has signed with employees in each year for which figures are available.

Greg Hands: The Department for International Trade (DIT) was set up in July 2016. There have been no non-disclosure agreements signed with employees working for DIT or UK Export Finance since this date.

Trade Agreements

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many preferential trade agreements he plans to have (a) in draft and (b) agreed with which countries by March 2019.

Greg Hands: We are currently talking to a number of countries on a variety of future trading options, which could include new Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). As a priority, we are working to secure continuity for our existing EU trade agreements with over 70 countries.In accordance with the terms of the draft Withdrawal Agreement, we will be able to negotiate, sign and ratify new trade agreements after we leave the EU in March 2019, allowing us to establish and enhance our trading relationships with old allies and new friends.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Building Regulations Advisory Committee

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with the Building Regulations Advisory Committee on the scope of a review of guidance in Approved Document M Volume 2.

Dominic Raab: The Department is speaking with the Building Regulations Advisory committee and is looking to set out its plans to scope a review of guidance in Approved Document M Volume 2. The committee is expected to discuss this at a forthcoming meeting in the coming weeks.

Planning Permission: Wildlife

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason the draft revised National Planning Policy Framework does not make reference to local wildlife sites.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will include local wildlife sites in Footnote 7 of the revised National Planning Policy Framework that lists the sites that are protected by policies that should restrict development.

Dominic Raab: This Government is committed to protecting our precious environment, including local wildlife sites and want to ensure that there is clarity around these essential protections. The draft revised National Planning Policy Framework is currently out for consultation. This closes on 10 May and we will publish the final document in the Summer.

Housing: Construction

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2018 to Question 134643, on Housing: Construction, in the event that all other options have been explored whether a Local Plan that does not meet objectively assessed need can still be passed by a Planning Inspector.

Dominic Raab: Local Plans should meet objectively assessed needs, with sufficient flexibility to adapt to rapid change, unless any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, or specific policies in the National Planning Policy Framework indicate that development should be restricted. At examination, an independently appointed Inspector will consider these factors, as part of their assessment of the Plan and whether the tests of soundness as set out in the Framework have been met.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Oral Questions

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Halton on 30 April 2018, Official Report column 16, what the evidential basis is for the answer.

Rishi Sunak: As part of our oversight of local government expenditure, this Department does consider the financial stability and service delivery of individual authorities. We keep the system under review and liaise with other departments, including the Department of Health and Social Care, to understand their current assessment of service pressures and aspirations. In addition, Ministers and officials have regular contact with a wide range of local authorities, including as part of the annual local government finance settlement.On this basis, we have no immediate concerns on the ability of local authorities to fulfil their statutory duties. We know the social care sector is under pressure, which is why we have given an additional £2 billion funding over the three years until 2019-20.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Government's consultation, Powers for dealing with unauthorised development and encampments, launched on 5 April 2018, what meetings he has had with representatives of the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities (a) prior to and (b) since launching that consultation.

Dominic Raab: My Department maintains close contact with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller stakeholder groups, and officials meet community representatives quarterly to discuss policy questions and give Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities a voice at the heart of Government.Unauthorised developments and encampments, and the recently-launched consultation, have been discussed at these meetings, with my noble Friend, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, the Minister responsible for Gypsy and Traveller equality, in attendance. Officials have also attended other relevant events concerning the consultation, such as the one organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gypsies, Travellers and Roma in the winter of 2017.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Government's consultation, Powers for dealing with unauthorised development and encampments, launched on 5 April 2018, what meetings he plans to have with representatives of the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities before that consultation closes on 15 June 2018.

Dominic Raab: My officials are organising, in collaboration with members of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, several workshops throughout May and June, which will offer members of these communities a chance to discuss the consultation and formulate responses.

Exercise: Equipment

Paul Girvan: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the level of (a) use and (b) value for money of park exercise equipment.

Rishi Sunak: The management of parks and any exercise equipment within those spaces is the responsibility of each local authority. The Government does not hold data on the use or value for money of park exercise equipment.The Parks Action Group, which was created following the Select Committee response to the Inquiry on the future of public parks, is reviewing a range of issues relating to parks and green spaces in England, including developing priority work streams on usage and value of parks. The Group has committed to review the need for structured physical facilities within parks and will report back to Parliament in the Autumn.Many local authorities already work very closely on health and wellbeing issues and are keen to develop opportunities for play. Best practice models are shared in the Local Government Association, which is a member of the Parks Action Group and will be a pivotal partner in sharing the learning and best practice from the Group with local authorities.

Local Government: Procurement

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to improve the transparency and comparability of local authority records on procurement spending with small businesses.

Rishi Sunak: The Local Government Transparency Code 2015 already sets out what procurement and spend information local authorities should publish and the format in which it should be published to ensure transparency and comparability across authorities.I am aware some councils publish on open data hubs to enable comparability and I welcome this.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2018 to Question 137440 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Procurement, if he will publish all invitations to tender issued by his Department that received no bidders.

Jake Berry: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Ministry of Defence

Taiwan: Military Alliances

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with the Taiwanese authorities on improving military links between the UK and Taiwan.

Mark Lancaster: The Secretary of State has had no such discussions. The UK's longstanding policy on Taiwan has not changed.

Military Bases

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the primary functions are of each of the UK's overseas military bases.

Mark Lancaster: In answering this question, we have defined 'the UK's overseas military bases' to mean the Permanent Joint Overseas Bases: BRITISH FORCES SOUTH ATLANTIC ISLANDS (BFSAI) The defence and security of the Falkland Islands remains a HMG priority, and as such we undertake regular assessments of potential military threats to ensure that we retain an appropriate level of defensive capability. The Ascension Island airfield is critical to our ability to support the Falkland Islands. BRITISH DEFENCE SINGAPORE SUPPORT UNIT (BDSSU) The UK maintains a permanent military presence in Singapore as a commitment to the Five Powers Defence Agreement. In addition, on request, BDSSU supply fuel to other nations' warships. The small team build on several strategic relationships in South East Asia and with the US contingent, who are collocated in Sembawang. CYPRUS British Forces Cyprus (BFC) protects and delivers against the UK's strategic interests, which includes its current contribution to both the air and land elements of OP SHADER, the UK commitment to the counter-Daesh coalition. RAF Akrotiri enables the rapid deployment of military capability within the region and beyond. The Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) in Cyprus is the only UK Overseas Territory to be Administered by the Ministry of Defence. The UK maintains sovereignty over the SBAs for military purposes, whilst protecting the interests of those who reside or who work in the Areas and administering them in cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus. DIEGO GARCIA Diego Garcia, the main island and military base in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) under UK sovereignty, remains an important base for the defence needs of the UK and US. The Small UK Military contingent work with the BIOT Administration to demonstrate sovereignty and protect the 64,000km2 of pristine, ecologically important waters from illegal fishing activity. DUQM Duqm is a developing port situated approximately 500km south of Muscat. Important to the economic development of Oman, its location makes it strategically useful for the UK, US and others: it will facilitate maritime basing east of Suez but outside of the Gulf, including a dry dock capability able to accommodate submarines and QEII Class aircraft carriers. GIBRALTAR The UK maintains a permanent military presence in Gibraltar, maintaining key sites and Air and Sea Ports of Disembarkation, which allows reinforcement to ensure Gibraltar's security and territorial integrity. UK sovereignty of Gibraltar is demonstrated through a combination of presence and posture in order to reassure the Gibraltarians and to enable the maintenance of a Forward Mounting Base, and to provide security to one of the UKs overseas territories.

Army: Females

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many women have been recruited to the Army in each of the last three years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The number of women recruited into the Army in each of the last three financial years can be found at the following link (Table 7 of the excel spreadsheet):https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-biannual-diversity-statistics-2017

Department for Work and Pensions

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made on the number of personal independence payment assessment decisions that have been overturned at tribunals.

Sarah Newton: The number of appeals for PIP cleared at hearing where the appeal decision was in favour of the claimant can be found in Table SSCS.3 of the quarterly bulletin “Tribunals and gender recognition certificate statistics quarterly – October to December 2017”. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-october-to-december-2017 It is important to note that appeals figures in this data can relate to a number of processes in the claimant journey and not solely assessment decisions.

Personal Independence Payment

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made on the number of personal independence cases that have been rejected at the mandatory reconsideration stage.

Sarah Newton: The volumes of disposal types at the mandatory reconsideration stage broken down by month for Personal Independence Payment can be found in Table 7b of the quarterly bulletin “Personal Independence Payment: April 2013 to January 2018”. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-january-2018

Children: Maintenance

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases undertaken by the Financial Investigation Unit have resulted in a financial uplift in payments to resident parents through the Child Maintenance Service in each of the last three years.

Kit Malthouse: Whilst we don’t have figures available for the last 3 years, the CMS 2012 experimental statistics publish information from June 16 to December 17. This shows the volume of changes to assessments, shown in Table 12, entitled Financial Investigation Unit actions. Please see the link below : https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/684262/tables-child-maintenance-service-august-2013-to-december-2017.ods

Food Banks

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to respond to the recommendations in the Trussell Trust report, Is universal credit truly universal?, on foodbank use; and if he will make a statement.

Kit Malthouse: People use food banks for many and varied reasons, and it would be misleading to link them to any single cause. Work offers people the best opportunity to get out of poverty and to become self-reliant; adults in working families are around four times less likely to be in poverty than those in workless families. This is why we are undertaking the most ambitious reform to the welfare system in decades - so that it supports people to find and to stay in work. While there are no official statistics on food bank usage, recent data from the Trussell Trust shows that the majority of users are out of work. As a safeguard for people needing more support, we have a well-established system of hardship payments, benefit advances and budgeting loans. Universal Credit has introduced a further package of measures announced at the Autumn Budget 2017, such as making advances of up to 100 per cent of the indicative award available and increasing the repayment period to 12 months, removing the 7 waiting days, providing an additional payment of 2 weeks of Housing Benefit to support claimants when they transition to UC, and changing how claimants in temporary accommodation receive support for their housing costs.

Universal Credit: Greater London

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on trends in the level of rent arrears in (a) Lewisham borough and (b) London.

Kit Malthouse: Research shows that many people come onto Universal Credit with pre-existing rent arrears. We also know that arrears are usually temporary and the majority of claimants do succeed in paying their rent, managing their monthly payments and clearing their arrears over time. In our research, the proportion of Universal Credit claimants who were in arrears at the start of their claim fell by a third after four months. We are currently carrying out further analysis of this issue with a number of housing providers, to investigate and understand the true level of rent arrears for their tenants, what is causing them and any impacts Universal Credit may be having. It will be published when completed.

Employment and Support Allowance

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Written Statement of 15 March 2018, on Employment and Support Allowance, whether her Department has recruited the 400 new members of staff to assist with correcting underpayments that may have occurred as a result of how a proportion of Incapacity Benefit claims were transitioned to Employment and Support Allowance between 2011 and 2014.

Sarah Newton: There are currently 400 people deployed on delivering the Incapacity Benefit Reassessment Legal Entitlements and Administrative Process (IBR LEAP) work within the Employment and Support Allowance division.

Universal Credit: Easington

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Mandatory Reconsiderations have been submitted by claimants of universal credit in Easington constituency as a result of a health assessment finding the claimant fit for work, since October 2017.

Sarah Newton: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Universal Credit

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which groups of people will be brought into in-work conditionality under Universal Credit who would not previously have been subject to it and the estimated numbers in each group.

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department's current estimate is of the total number of additional people who will be brought into in-work conditionality under universal credit by the time that the roll-out of universal credit has been completed.

Alok Sharma: One of the key transformational elements of Universal Credit is that it provides us with the opportunity to support people who are in work to progress their earnings. It marks a significant change from the legacy system of benefits and tax credits. The Department’s internal analysis indicates that there will be around 1 million claimants in work potentially falling into in-work conditionality on Universal Credit, receiving support when Universal Credit is fully rolled out. This internal analysis is derived from the Department’s INFORM and Policy Simulation models.

Social Security Benefits

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the time frame set by her Department is within which staff should correct a payment error following notification.

Kit Malthouse: This Department takes errors very seriously and takes steps to correct them as soon as possible.

Department for Work and Pensions: Public Expenditure

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to what projects and programmes the entries in the spreadsheet published as his Department’s transparency document, entitled DWP payments over £25,000 for December 2017, relate.

Kit Malthouse: The entries relate to Employment Programmes, Corporate Services and a small number of payments under the European Social Fund (ESF) programme (see Column B ‘Entity’).These payments are not classified by Project.

Personal Independence Payment: Visual Impairment

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of personal independence payment recipients receive the mobility element of the benefit due solely to a visual impairment.

Sarah Newton: The latest available data on claimants with visual impairment who receive the mobility element of the benefit is published and available at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk Guidance for users is available at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html Data is based on primary disabling condition as recorded on the PIP computer system. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these published statistics.

Support for Mortgage Interest

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance of 26 March 2018, Official Report, column 506, whether there is a time limit for Support for Mortgage Interest claimants to reconsider their decision not to apply for a loan and apply for that loan backdating their claim to 6 April 2018.

Kit Malthouse: Claimants may change their mind whether to take or decline a loan at any time. Should an eligible claimant decline the loan then later change their mind, they will also be entitled to receive payments back-dated to 6 April 2018, if required. There is no time limit set for a claimant to change their mind or for backdating their claim as long as the claimant remains eligible.

Personal Independence Payment

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of mandatory reconsiderations have upheld the original decision on personal independence payment in each of the last three years.

Sarah Newton: The volumes of disposal types at the mandatory reconsideration stage broken down by month for Personal Independence Payment can be found in Table 7b of the quarterly bulletin “Personal Independence Payment: April 2013 to January 2018”. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-january-2018

Employment and Support Allowance

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of mandatory reconsiderations have upheld the original decision on employment support allowance in each of the last three years.

Sarah Newton: The number of Mandatory Reconsiderations for Employment Support Allowance (ESA), by decision type, can be found in the official published statistics: “ESA: outcomes of Work Capability Assessments including mandatory reconsiderations and appeals: March 2018”. The relevant data can be found in Table 14. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2018

Department for Work and Pensions: Disclosure of Information

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-disclosure agreements her Department has signed with employees in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Kit Malthouse: We do not hold a central record of ‘settlement agreements’. The use of non disclosure settlement agreements would be extremely rare and would always comply with the Cabinet Office’s central guidance. We believe that no non-disclosure agreements have been used in the period.

Universal Credit: Disqualification

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether there are any targets relating to the number of sanctions made against claimants of universal credit.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Work and Pensions: Disclosure of Information

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many leak enquiries her Department has undertaken in the last two years.

Kit Malthouse: There have been two leak investigations carried out by the Department during the last two calendar years. One in 2016 and one in 2017.

Social Security Benefits

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the proportion of mandatory reconsiderations for (a) PIP and (b) ESA applications which changed the original assessment in each of the last 12 months.

Sarah Newton: The department constantly monitors its performance in relation to Mandatory Reconsideration, making improvements as necessary, in order to ensure that the highest standards of decision making are maintained. The links below include the most recently published MR outcomes fro PIP and ESA. The number of Personal Independent Payment (PIP) mandatory reconsiderations (MRs) cleared, by decision type, can be found in the official published statistics: “Data tables: Personal Independence Payment: Official Statistics to January 2017”. The relevant data can be found in Table 7b. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-january-2018 The number of MRs for Employment Support Allowance (ESA), by decision type, can be found in the official published statistics: “ESA: outcomes of Work Capability Assessments including mandatory reconsiderations and appeals: March 2018”. The relevant data can be found in Table 14. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2018

Universal Credit

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2018 to Question 139040, what written correspondence has taken place between her Department and utility companies on the effect of the introduction of universal credit on levels of debt and arrears; and if she will place copies of that correspondence in the Library.

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2018 to Question 139040, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the introduction of universal credit on levels of utility debt and arrears; and if she will make a statement.

Alok Sharma: The Department has not made an assessment of levels of utility debt and arrears. We plan to publish research into Universal Credit and arrears later this year. There has been no specific written correspondence between DWP and utility companies on the effect of Universal Credit and levels of debt. We continue to work closely with utility companies and regularly attend a Utility Company Debt Group to update them on the latest information regarding Universal Credit, its rollout and any changes that may have taken place. These include discussions on deductions and arrears, as well as taking feedback for future improvements to the service we provide for them.

Universal Credit

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2018 to Question 134167, what the timescale is for bringing forward legislative proposals to bring into effect automatic split payments of universal credit.

Alok Sharma: DWP has no current proposals to bring forward split payments.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Animal Welfare: Convictions

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of people convicted under animal cruelty legislation received a life ban from keeping animals.

George Eustice: In 2016 there were over 800 people convicted for offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 however records of disqualification orders are not held centrally and so it is not possible to provide an accurate reply.

Pets: Theft

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people have been prosecuted for pet theft in each of the last five years.

George Eustice: This information is not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Records of prosecutions for offences under section 1 of the Theft Act 1968 do not provide breakdowns of the item or animal stolen.

Pigs: Republic of Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many live pigs were (a) imported and (b) exported between the UK and the Republic of Ireland in each year between 2012 and 2017.

George Eustice: The number of live pigs exported to the Republic of Ireland between the years 2012 and 2017 are as follows: 201220132014201520162017627815008121141313989738917  The number of live pigs imported from the Republic of Ireland to the United Kingdom between the years 2012 and 2017 are as follows: 201220132014201520162017683684675279618635601895457516444450   TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System) is a European Commission system employed by EU member states to facilitate and record animal/animal product movements into and throughout the EU. The information that we have provided is a true reflection of the information that we have access to, and was correct at the time the information was obtained from TRACES. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data, as we can only rely on the information that has been input into TRACES by a third party.

Animal Welfare: Disqualification Orders

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many disqualification orders have been issued in England and Wales under s34 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in each of the last five years.

George Eustice: Records of disqualification orders are not held centrally. Records of the number of offenders convicted of animal welfare offences are held by the Ministry of Justice. However, records of disqualification orders made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 are not routinely held by that department, but are held on the Police National Computer. To breach a disqualification order is an offence and therefore numbers of breaches are held by the Ministry of Justice. Although records of disqualification orders are held on the Police National Computer, because of the way they are recorded it is not possible to link the number made under the 2006 Act to the number of convictions under the same Act.

Pet Travel Scheme: Fraud

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of training provided by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to (a) carrier staff and (b) pet checker staff who operate on behalf of the APHA to ensure that they are able to identify fake pet passports used for animals travelling under the Pet Travel Scheme.

George Eustice: Pursuant to the answer provided on 23 April 2018 to PQ 136010, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is responsible for providing carriers and checkers with training information and an overview of the requirements for the approved carriage of dogs, cats and ferrets under the Pet Travel Scheme. APHA carries out quality assurance checks on carriers and pet checkers to monitor the ongoing standard of performance of the carrier or approved checker when checking that animals meet the requirements of the scheme. The quality assurance process focuses on overall compliance with the Pet Travel Scheme. This includes ensuring that carriers or checkers can identify animals that do not meet the general requirements of the scheme; identifying suspected smuggling cases; and identifying fraudulently completed or fake passports. The level of quality assurance checks carried out is established using factors such as the volume of animal throughput, the previous quality assurance checks undertaken, performance of the carrier or checker and any high risk considerations. APHA field teams are in communication with their carriers and checkers. Where non-compliance is identified, extra checks must be undertaken as part of the recorded follow-on actions, along with any training or action taken with the carrier or authorised checker.

Dogs: Canine Distemper

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department has issued on the inspection of dogs for distemper on arrival in the UK.

George Eustice: Canine Distemper is not a notifiable disease in the United Kingdom (UK) or the European Union (EU) and there is no requirement for dogs entering the country to be inspected or tested for the disease. There is a requirement for pets entering the UK to undergo identification and documentary checks to ensure that an adequate health preparation has taken place prior to entering the country. There is no official guidance with regard to distemper, however, the department stresses good practice for owners and kennels to protect their dogs against the virus given that there is a vaccine available globally. The guidance titled “Getting your Pet Vaccinated” has been published by the British Veterinary Association in relation to vaccinations suitable for the protection of pets which Defra promotes. All pet dogs moving to the UK for sale or rehoming must be examined by an Official Veterinarian (OV) in the country of origin prior to embarkation to ensure compliance with the Balai Directive for commercial movements. The OV must certify that the animal does not show any signs of disease within 48 hours of travelling.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Seafood

Melanie Onn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to support fishing and fish processing communities as part of the Seafood 2040 Strategy.

Melanie Onn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to support the fish supply chain as part of the Seafood 2040 Strategy.

George Eustice: Seafood 2040 is an industry led framework of 25 recommendations which sets out the vision for the seafood supply chain in England. The majority of the framework’s recommendations are for the industry to take an all-sector collaborative approach. A number of recommendations require Government action, which we are fully committed to delivering. Defra is currently supporting the delivery of the framework’s first recommendation, which will see the creation of the Seafood Industry Leadership Group (SILG). SILG will take the lead in the delivery of Seafood 2040 in terms of developing more detailed plans and recommendations. Once SILG is established, it will drive forward the delivery of Seafood 2040. Although SILG is not yet established, Defra fisheries teams are working closely with the industry, such as the aquaculture sector, to develop mechanisms which are relevant and fit for purpose for the management of fisheries and aquaculture.

Balloons and Sky Lanterns: Agriculture

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is reduce the risks of helium balloons and sky lanterns to livestock keepers and the wider agricultural community.

George Eustice: We have been taking forward a series of non-regulatory measures, aimed at minimising the risks associated with sky lanterns and helium balloons and driving up safety standards. These include a voluntary Code of Practice for sky lanterns to ensure that sky lanterns are manufactured to be safe and are sold responsibly. NABAS the National Association of Balloon Artists and Suppliers, (the trade association for the balloon industry), has also published a code of conduct on balloon releases.

Pet Travel Scheme: Cats

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many kittens and cats entered the UK under the EU Pet Travel Scheme in 2016 and 2017.

George Eustice: The numbers of cats imported to Great Britain under the Pet Travel Scheme in 2016 and 2017 are as follows: 2016 – 24,1452017 – 26,480 The data regarding the Pet Travel Scheme is taken from the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s system for recording pets’ throughput based on information provided by checkers employed by approved carriers of pet animals. This information does not record the age of the animal. As such the data above will include both cats and kittens which were old enough to be fully compliant with the requirements of the scheme at the time of entry to Great Britain.

Home Office

Religious Hatred: Islam

Sarah Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether resources are being allocated to protect mosques and Muslim communities on and around 3 April as a result of letters inciting hate against Muslims and designating that date as punish a Muslim day.

Victoria Atkins: The Home Office has already committed £2.4m over three years (2016/2019) to provide protective security measures to places of worship, including mosques, in England and Wales that have been subject or vulnerable to a hate crime. In addition the Home Office committed £1m, following the Finsbury Park attack last year, to protect faith institutions which are vulnerable to attack on racial, religious or ideological grounds. I am writing to the policing lead to reiterate Government support. More broadly, operational decisions about the allocation of police resources are a matter for Chief Constables.

Immigrants: Caribbean

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Windrush children have paid (a) legal fees and (b) documentation fees as a result of (i) the Government's hostile environment policies in respect of immigration status and (ii) proving their immigration status; and how much was spent on those fees in each of the last 8 years.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does not hold information on legal fees paid. If children of the Windrush generation have been adversely affected by immigration enforcement measures because they have not been able to evidence their status that they should have been entitled to, they will be able to make that case to the independent compensation scheme which the Home Office will be setting up.

Immigrants: Caribbean

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding has been allocated for the compensation of Windrush generation children for (a) legal costs and (b) other fees incurred in proving their immigration status; and whether that compensation will be available retrospectively for those who have already paid such fees.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office will be setting up a new scheme to deliver this which will be run independently. I will set out further details and will consult around its scope and how people will be able to access it in the coming weeks.

Immigrants: Caribbean

Jo Platt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much money has been accrued to the public purse from applications for citizenship from the Windrush generation.

Caroline Nokes: Providing the information requested would require a manual check of individual records which could only be done at disproportionate cost.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that data relating to the immigration and residence applications and status of EU citizens is stored securely.

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that EU citizens making immigration or residency applications will be able to confirm that their relevant data and documentation is still on file with his Department after June 2021.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office is producing a new, simplified digital system for applications for settled status, the EU Settlement Scheme. Individuals’ status will be recorded electronically and the Home Office will have a long-term record of EU citizens and their family members who are living here with settled status. Those records and relevant Home Office data will be stored securely in accordance with relevant legislation and Home Office data security standards which apply across all data sets within the Home Office. We will provide methods for applicants to view, update and confirm that their data is still on file.The Settlement Scheme is still being developed and discussed with stakeholders, and we will be setting out further details in the coming months.

Police

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment the Department has made of the capacity of uniformed officers in (a) response and (b) neighbourhood teams to manage volume crime  alongside their other responsibilities.

Mr Nick Hurd: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) assess police effectiveness as part of their inspection programme and publish their findings at force level and through a national report. It is an operational decision for chief officers, working with their PCC, to determine how best to allocate their available resources taking into account local and national priorities account.

Police

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations police forces have made to his Department on the capacity of investigators to manage caseloads.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office is in regular correspondence with policing on a range of topics. Last year, I spoke with police leaders in every police force in England and Wales about the demands they faced. We have responded positively by providing a strong and comprehensive settlement that is increasing total investment in the police system by over £460m in 2018/19. This includes £50m for Counter-Terrorism, £130m for national priorities and £280m in force funding from increases in Council Tax precept income.

Police: Productivity

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Written Statement of 19 April 2018 on Police Funding, HCWS626, if he will publish the data set on productivity benefits from mobile working for each of the eight forces.

Mr Nick Hurd: In 2017, based on a sample of eight forces, the Home Office estimated that if all forces could achieve one hour per officer, per day of productivity benefits from mobile working, this could potentially free up the equivalent of 11,000 extra officers nationally. We are not planning to publish data from that work, as we are currently undertaking a wider audit which will give us a more comprehensive picture of the potential benefits of mobile working, based on a wider sample of forces. The findings of this more comprehensive audit will inform decisions on how policing can maximise gains from mobile digital working going forward.

Redthread: Finance

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding his Department plans to allocate to Redthread to extend its  Youth Violence Intervention Programme outside of London in each of the next two years.

Victoria Atkins: In 2017/18 the Home Office provided nearly £170,000 to support Redthread’s youth violence intervention work and in particular its expansion to new sites outside of London, starting with Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham from march 2018 and Queen Elizabeth and Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham from July 2018. It is a key commitment in the Serious Violence Strategy to continue to support Redthread to expand and develop its service. We will make an announcement on the extent of the funding in due course.

Crimes of Violence: Gangs

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Department's announcement on further funding to tackle gang related violence, published on 12 July 2017, if he will publish the results of the 15 local area reviews in regions experiencing gang related issues; what further support his Department has provide to those areas; and how many those areas have introduced (a) multi-agency action plans to tackle county lines, (b) training and support programmes and (c) town and city centre safeguarding measures.

Victoria Atkins: In 2017/18 the Home Office provided match-funding for 15 local reviews in areas that are experiencing gang related issues to assess their resilience and help address the issues they face. The areas were: Aylesbury, Cherwell and West Oxfordshire, Pendle, Rhyl, Flintshire, Mold, Bognor Regis, Brighton, Swansea, Cardiff, Gloucester, South Birmingham, Anglesey and Gwynedd, Grimsby and Worcester. In London we have worked closely with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and we are pleased it has supported reviews on a similar match-funded basis with London boroughs and continues to do so. To date (April) it has supported 16 reviews since 2016. The funding from the Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation (EGVE) programme also provided local areas with follow-up support to help implement the actions from local reviews. This varies from area to area depending on the findings from the review. The reports and follow up activity are locally owned and are not published by the Home Office. In the Serious Violence Strategy we committed to provide match-funded support for local and regional views in 2018/19 and 2019/20 and we will enhance the package of training and follow-up advice available for areas.

Abortion: Clinics

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable is for the publication of the results of the review into harassment and intimidation at abortion clinics.

Mr Nick Hurd: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to her on the 19th March 2018, UIN 132535.

Undocumented Migrants: Deportation

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether bonuses have been paid to officials in his Department in relation to the targets for the removal of illegal immigrants.

Caroline Nokes: Bonuses are a part of the Home Office appraisal process. Our Performance Management procedures allow for individuals to receive a bonus at the end of the performance year if they receive a top marking for their overall achievements during the year. In addition, we have several ways available to reward members of staff or teams during the year for going above and beyond what is expected of them in their roles, such as thank you vouchers and special bonuses.

Engineers and Scientists: Visas

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April to Question 137536 on Engineers and Scientists: Visas, how many (a) scientists and (b) engineers were refused a Tier 2 (General) Certificate of Sponsorship between May 2015 and November 2017 as a result of the annual cap been reached.

Caroline Nokes: The specific information requested is not included in statistics published by the Home Office. The number of restricted certificates of sponsorship granted, and the points threshold, for each monthly allocation since April 2016 is published on the Home Office website. Published data on sponsorship applications can be found in the immigration statistics release.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employer-sponsorship-restricted-certificate-allocations

Abortion: Protest

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether officials of his Department have met with representatives from (a) the British Pregnancy Advisory Service and (b) Marie Stopes International to discuss pro-life vigils outside abortion centres.

Sir Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department plans to speak to women considering abortion who received assistance from people involved in pro-life vigils and who went on to have their child during its consultation on the presence of pro-life vigils near abortion clinics.

Mr Nick Hurd: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Sheffield Heeley on the 19th March 2018, UIN 132535.

Identity Cards

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will bring forward legislative proposals for the establishment of a national identity card scheme.

Caroline Nokes: In 2010 the then Government decided to scrap the identity card scheme and the associated National Identity Register because it was expensive and represented a substantial erosion of civil liberties. This Government has no plans to revisit that decision. We have not seen any evidence that countries with physical identity cards, including most of Europe, offer greater protection against terrorism, greater control at the border or greater protection from fraud.

Deportation

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what immigration removals flights his Department plans to charter in each of the next three months.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department (a) has chartered and (b) plans to charter a flight with the designation PVT070.

Caroline Nokes: We do not routinely comment on operational matters in respect of the Home Office charter flight programme.I can confirm that the UK Government will not be chartering an aircraft for deportations to Jamaica in May.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service: Finance

Thelma Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2018 to Question 136604, on West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service: Finance, how many times in each of the last five years his Department has met the West Yorkshire Fire Authority to discuss funding for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office has had responsibility for fire since January 2016. Ministers regularly meet with and speak to fire stakeholders about a range of matters.

Passports: Fraud

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UK passports in use were found to be (a) unauthorised copies, (b) forged, (c) fake, (or) false, (e) genuine passport books containing incorrect data and (f) otherwise invalid in the last 12 months.

Caroline Nokes: The information requested is not held in a reportable format and could therefore only be supplied at disproportionate cost.

EEA Nationals: Health Services

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is his policy that citizens of European Economic Area countries will be exempt from the immigration health surcharge after the UK leaves the EU.

Caroline Nokes: EU citizens and their family members who are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement will continue to be able to access healthcare as they do now - exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge. The Government has been clear that it also wants to secure a similar agreement on citizens’ rights with the non-EU EEA states (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein).Future arrangements on immigration policy after the end of the implementation period are to be confirmed. We will want to ensure that any decisions on the long-term arrangements are based on evidence and engagement.

British Nationality

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answers of 26 April 2018 to Question 137082 on UK Border Agency: Northern Ireland, 23 April 2018 to Question 137083 on UK Border Agency: Staff, 24 April 2018 to Question 137583 on UK Border Agency: Staff and the 26 April 2018 to Question 137086 on Public Sector Employment, what the (a) processes and (b) requirements are for people to demonstrate UK nationality.

Caroline Nokes: The Civil Service Nationality Rules govern eligibility for employment in the Civil Service on the grounds of nationality and must be followed by government departments and other bodies within the Home Civil Service and Diplomatic Service in their recruitment and appointment procedures. These rules are a matter of public record at:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/536134/civil_service-nationality_rules_20_june__2016.pdf The guidance to these rules sets out the documentary evidence which should be provided by candidates who are recommended for appointment. This evidence is requested during the recruitment process.

Gurpal Virdi

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the names and job titles were of the Gold Group members who considered the investigation of allegations against former police sergeant Gurpal Virdi.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office does not hold this information which is an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police Service.

Motor Vehicles: Theft

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 23 February to Question 128850 on motor vehicles: theft, if she will (a) review her policy of charging victims of car theft to retrieve their vehicles and (b) exempt stolen vehicles from the statutorily prescribed charges for the recovery and storage of vehicles recovered by the emergency services.

Mr Nick Hurd: The statutory prescribed charges are kept under periodic review. There are no plans currently to change them or to exempt stolen vehicles specifically.

Right of Abode: EU Nationals

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether non-UK EU nationals who were resident in the UK before 1973 have a legal right to abode in the UK that is separate from their rights as EU citizens under the Treaties of the European Union.

Caroline Nokes: The right of abode is a statutory right which is held by British citizens and Commonwealth citizens who had right of abode immediately before 1 January 1983 and have not ceased to be Commonwealth citizens at any time. EU citizens who were present and settled in the UK on 1 January 1973 were deemed to have indefinite leave to remain, by virtue of section 1(2) of the Immigration Act 1971. As long as they have continued to reside in the UK and have not had their indefinite leave revoked, they will have retained that settled status.

Immigration: Biometrics

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable is for all Biometric Residence Permits to include national insurance numbers.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office and Department for Work and Pensions began work in 2016 to issue Biometric Residence Permits featuring the holder’s national insurance number where they are entitled to work in the UK. This has been implemented for all refugees and most Tier 2 skilled migrants. It will be extended to other relevant immigration categories in due course.

Brexit

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to give effect to the agreement reached with the EU on (a) the rights of Irish citizens living in the UK and (b) the operation of the Common Travel Area after the UK leaves the EU.

Caroline Nokes: The Government is committed to maintaining the Common Travel Area and the associated rights of Irish citizens living in the UK. The December Joint Report includes recognition from the EU that the Common Travel Area arrangements between the UK and Ireland are protected after the UK has left the EU. The Government is determined to ensure that this, like all the commitments made in the Joint Report, is turned into legally-binding text in the Withdrawal Agreement. The Government has also announced its intention to bring forward a new bill – a Withdrawal Agreement and Implementation Bill – to give effect to the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU in domestic law.

British Nationality: Republic of Ireland

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many citizens of the Republic of Ireland living in the UK have (a) applied for and (b) been granted British citizenship in each of the last 5 years.

Caroline Nokes: Information on applications for and grants of British citizenship broken down by the applicants’ nationality is published in the quarterly Immigration Statistics, Citizenship volume tables cz_01_q_a and cz_06 at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2017/list-of-tables#citizenship Please note that the figures are not directly comparable as some applications in a given year may be decided in a later year. However the large majority of decisions are grants.

Airguns

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to publish the outcome of the Government's review of air weapon regulation, announced on 12 December 2017.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Government’s review of the regulation of air weapons received a large number of representations from interested parties and members of the public. We are considering these carefully and will publish our findings in due course.

Visas: Migrant Workers

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2018 to Question 128120, on Doctors: Migrant Workers, how many applications there were for visas for work using sponsorship certificates for Human Health and Social Work Activities; and how many of those applications were (a) successful and (b) refused, in each of the last five years.

Caroline Nokes: The available published statistics on Certificate of Sponsorship used in tier 2 visa applications by industry sector are published in the quarterly Immigration Statistics, Sponsorship data tables, table cs_03_q, latest edition at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2017/list-of-tables#visas.

Stop and Search: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been stopped and searched in (a) London, (b) the London Borough of Bexley and (c) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency in each of the last five years.

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department,  how many people were stopped and searched by the Police in each of the last five years; and how many of those people were subsequently arrested.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on the number of stop and searches and subsequent arrests, conducted by each police force in England and Wales. The Home Office collects these data at Police Force Area level only and does not hold this information at constituency level. These data are published in the ‘Police Powers and Procedures, England and Wales’ statistical bulletins, and latest available data for the year ending March 2017 can be accessed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2017 Data on stop and searches are broken down by the reason for the search or subsequent arrest and the ethnicity of the person being searched. Data from 2006/07 onwards can be found in the Open Data Table accompanying the Police Powers and Procedures bulletin:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/654473/stop-search-open-data-tables-ppp.ods

UK Border Force: Recruitment

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the criteria are for recruitment of Border Force personnel; and whether those criteria are applied consistently throughout the UK.

Caroline Nokes: The criteria set for Border Force roles in recruitment campaigns will reflect the nature of the post being recruited. Where educational qualifications are a requirement we will try to offer the opportunity for people to demonstrate this using previous experience where possible.

Knives: Crime

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of knife crime incidents recorded in England in the last year for which figures are available were linked to criminal drug taking activity; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office collects data on the number of selected offences involving a knife or a sharp instrument recorded by the police in England and Wales.It is not possible to tell from this information whether an offence was related to criminal drug taking activity or not. The most recently published data for offences involving knives or sharp instruments is for the calendar year 2017 and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables.

Cannabis: Medical Treatments

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he has had with his Canadian counterpart on the provision of legal access to medicinal cannabis.

Mr Nick Hurd: No meeting has been held between the Home Secretary and his Canadian counterpart to discuss the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.The World Health Organisation’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence has committed to reviewing the scheduling of cannabis under the United Nation’s 1961 Convention. This is due to consider the therapeutic use, as well as the dependence and the potential to abuse constituent parts of cannabis. We will await the outcome of this report before considering the next steps.

Engineers and Scientists: Visas

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April to Question 137536, on Engineers and Scientists: Visas, whether the number of engineers and scientists who were refused a Tier 2 (General) Certificate of Sponsorship between May 2015 and November 2017 increased because the annual cap had been reached.

Caroline Nokes: The specific information requested is not included in statistics published by the Home Office. Published data on sponsorship applications can be found in the immigration statistics release.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employer-sponsorship-restricted-certificate-allocations

Immigration

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the criteria are for the use of a case arising from the tax affairs of an individual that was settled by HMRC in a decision to refuse an application by that person for renewed leave to remain in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: In immigration routes which awarded points for an applicant’s UK earnings, we must be satisfied that those earnings are genuine.Where we identify discrepancies between the income declared to the Home Office and to HMRC, we give applicants an opportunity to explain the reasons for the discrepancies. We will take into consideration the nature of the discrepancy, all available evidence and any explanation from the applicant before making a decision.

Immigrants: English Language

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy that an applicant whose leave to remain has been cancelled because of an allegation of cheating in a Toeic English language test will be able to submit an appeal in the UK.

Caroline Nokes: Parliament legislated to amend the appeals system in the Immigration Act 2014 so that an appeal only arises where a claim raising asylum, humanitarian protection or human rights is refused. Similar provisions are set out in the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016. The Government has no plans to change the appeals system.

Educational Testing Service

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what sanctions his Department imposed on the American firm ETS after Panorama revealed in 2014 that there had been cheating in some of that company's Test of English for International Communication tests.

Caroline Nokes: Tests within the UK were provided by ETS Global BV. They had their licence suspended in early February 2014. This license expired on 5 April 2014 and they were removed from the immigration rules on 1 July 2014. Information on current providers is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-applying-for-uk-visa-approved-english-language-tests

Educational Testing Service

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the credibility of the allegations made by ETS that people cheated in the Test of English for International Communication.

Caroline Nokes: As previously set out to the Home Affairs Select committee in writing, a number of steps were taken to ensure that the ETS process for declaring test results invalid was suitably robust. This included commissioning an independent expert report from a leading Professor of Forensic Speech Science which concluded that the number of false matches would be very small, and that the system used were more likely to produce false negatives than false positives. The Courts have found that the core evidence we have is sufficient to establish a presumption of fraud.

Educational Testing Service

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what methods ETS has used to identify cheating in Test of English for International Communication tests; and what opportunities are available to people who want to challenge (a) allegations and (b) findings of cheating in those tests.

Caroline Nokes: Our understanding of the methods used by ETS to identify invalid tests has been set out in writing to the Home Affairs Select Committee. These responses are publicly available. The Courts have consistently found the core evidence we have is sufficient to establish a presumption of fraud. It is then up to individuals to challenge this through statutory appeals where applicable or Judicial Review.

Consultants: Visas

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for visas were made for prospective consultants by medical discipline at each of the foundation hospitals in 2017; and how many of those applications were approved by medical discipline for (a) Airedale General Hospital, (b) Bradford Royal Infirmary and (c) St Luke's Hospital Bradford.

Caroline Nokes: The information requested is not available in statistics published by the Home Office.

Passports

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many passports were issued in error and subsequently cancelled or superseded by his Department in each of the last six years.

Caroline Nokes: Her Majesty’s Passport Office is unable to provide data on how many passports were issued in error and subsequently either cancelled or superseded in each of the last six years. This information is not readily available and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Home Office: Complaints

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints his Department received relating to the (a) loss of passports (b) loss of identity documents and (c) issuance of incorrect biometric permits in each of the last six years.

Caroline Nokes: The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Home Office: Senior Civil Servants

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will list the performance related bonuses paid to senior civil servants in his Department by grade and in each of the last six years; and what were the justifications for each of those payments.

Victoria Atkins: The Home Office publishes transparency returns each year on bonuses and in addition provides a breakdown by grade for PB2, PB3 and PB4 Board members in the Annual Report https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2016-to-2017We follow Cabinet Office guidance on Senior Civil Servants’ (SCS) performance management and in accordance with this guidance only the top 25% of the Department’s SCS members are eligible for consideration of a non-consolidated, non-pensionable year-end performance award (bonus) following an objective assessment of individual performance at the Senior Pay and Performance Committee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary.Transparency returns are published= and cover the period 2011 to 2016. The returns for 2017 are awaiting publication and will also include in-year SCS bonus awards which were introduced last year by Cabinet Office.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?keywords=&publication_filter_option=transparency-data&topics%5B%5D=all&departments%5B%5D=home-office&official_document_status=all&world_locations%5B%5D=all&from_date=&to_date

Asylum

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum cases his Department has identified as complex in each of the last 10 years for which data are available.

David Linden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum cases his Department has identified as complex in Glasgow East constituency in each of the last 10 years for which data are available.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does not publish data relating to the number of cases identified as non-straightforward in each of the last ten years.Furthermore, whilst we can provide data on the current addresses of asylum claimants, data on the place of residence and whether or not their case is identified as non-straightforward can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.However, data on the number of non-straightforward cases awaiting an initial asylum decision can be found in tabs labelled ASY 10 and ASY 11 in the Asylum Transparency Data contained in the link below; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-february-2018Data on the number of asylum claims in the last ten years can be found in tab as_01 of the Immigration Statistics release which can be found in the following link; https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2017-data-tables

Slavery

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2018 to Question 129973 on Slavery: what the status is of victims of modern slavery for whom a decision on the grant of a residence permit has been made under the interim Home Office guidance.

Caroline Nokes: A confirmed victim of modern slavery granted a residence permit under the interim guidance will be granted discretionary leave to remain in the UK. This leave is granted with access to public funds and permission to work.

Immigration

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what role (a) Capita and (b) other private contractors play in the immigration enforcement system.

Caroline Nokes: Capita currently provides no services to Immigration Enforcement. A Capita company, Tascor E&D Services Limited did previously provide escorting services for immigration purposes, but this contract expired on the 30th April 2018.Immigration Enforcement do use private contractors to fulfil various functions, and details of these contracts can be found upon the Contracts Finder website (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder)

UK Border Force: Private Sector

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what functions of Border Force have been contracted out to (a) Capita and (b) other third-party contractors.

Caroline Nokes: Capita currently provides no services to Border Force. A Capita company, Tascor E&D Services Limited did previously provide escorting services for immigration purposes, but this contract expired on the 30th April 2018.Border Force do use private contractors to fulfil various functions, and details of these contracts can be found upon Contracts Finder website( https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder )

Department for International Development

Middle East: Churches

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department is giving to Christians in Northern Iraq and Syria to help with relocation and rebuilding of church property.

Alistair Burt: Humanitarian and reconstruction needs in both Syria and in Iraq are amongst the most severe in the world, and we must accordingly prioritise carefully to ensure we reach the most vulnerable people, including Christians. UK funding is distributed on the basis of need, to ensure civilians are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, or ethnicity. In Syria, while the conflict is ongoing, our priority is to deliver immediate, life-saving humanitarian aid to those affected. In addition to our highly-targeted humanitarian funding in Iraq, we have to date contributed £14.45 million to the UN’s Funding Facility for Stabilisation (FFS), to help the Iraqi government re-establish basic services in areas of return, such as Northern Iraq. The FFS is currently implementing over 200 projects in areas where Christian communities reside. These projects have been targeted at the most acute stabilisation needs, for example to ensure that Iraqis liberated from Daesh can access clean water and basic healthcare; to date projects have not included the relocation or rebuilding of church property.

Developing Countries: Malaria

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, given the UK Government’s recent recommitment to defeating malaria, if her Department will increase investment in community-based primary healthcare programmes in remote, rural communities.

Alistair Burt: DFID supports low income countries to make faster progress towards universal health coverage, with a particular focus on improving access to good quality primary care in poorer, very often remote areas. This support to strengthening health systems helps to ensure that countries are better able to prevent, detect and treat all causes of ill health, including malaria.

Developing Countries: Internally Displaced People

Stephen Kerr: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support internally displaced people (a) unilaterally and (b) working with the United Nations.

Alistair Burt: The UK is committed to meeting the needs of displaced populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs). For example, we support, through core and bilateral funding, some of the key UN agencies involved in IDP response, including the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the International Organisation for Migration. In addition, the UK has large bilateral programmes in countries such as Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen that support IDPs and the communities that host them.Several Member States, including the UK, are also actively exploring options with the UN to mark the 20th anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement this year - including the idea of launching a UN High Level Panel on Internally Displaced Persons, which presents one way of galvanising further political and operational attention and action on IDPs.

Burma: Armed Conflict

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Kachin and Karen states in Myanmar.

Alistair Burt: The UK is deeply concerned about the intensifying conflict in Kachin and Karen states, including credible reports of human rights abuses and violations. As well as ensuring specific references to the situation in Kachin in the UN Human Rights Council’s resolution on Human Rights in March 2018, the UK has recently agreed funding in Kachin with a local partner for food, shelter, education and sanitation responses for up to 2,600 people. We are also in discussions with partners regarding funding for those affected in Karen state and will continue to urge all parties to abide by the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.

Cabinet Office

National Fraud Initiative: Data Protection

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation on the operation of the National Fraud Initiative.

Chloe Smith: The EU General Data Protection Regulation creates a new framework for data protection. We are reviewing the operation of the NFI as a result of GDPR to ensure that it operates in a way consistent with the new law.

Treasury

Tax Evasion

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many HMRC investigations of taxpayers initiated in 2013 were ongoing for more than (a) one year (b) two years and (c) four years prior to prosecution; and if he will make a statement.

Mel Stride: The HMRC data below relates to the number of people who were subject to a criminal investigation started in 2013/14, broken down by duration in years. The end point to determine duration is the outcome of the prosecution (conviction or acquittal). The number of investigation cases involved will be less as many cases involve more than one individual.  Criminal Investigations started in 2013-2014: 147 individuals were subject to a criminal investigation which lasted one year or less. 189 individuals were subject to a criminal investigation which lasted one to two years. 228 individuals were subject to a criminal investigation which lasted two to four years. 17 individuals were subject to a criminal investigation which lasted over 4 years. 309 individuals are subject to a criminal investigation which is still ongoing.

Exports: Northern Ireland

Nigel Dodds: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he as made of value of exports by Northern Ireland (a) agri-food and (b) pharmaceutical sectors to the Republic of Ireland in each of the last five years.

Mel Stride: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on UK imports and exports of goods. HMRC releases this information as National Statistics called the Overseas Trade Statistics and the Regional Trade Statistics (RTS). Data on exports from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland are published within the RTS by HMRC at Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) division level (2 digit). These are available in the ‘Build Your Own Tables’ area of HMRC’s statistical website uktradeinfo.com Published exports data for ‘Food and live animals’ and ‘Chemicals and related products’ for the years requested can be accessed from the following link: www.uktradeinfo.com/RTS/NI-ROItrade

Service Industries: Northern Ireland

Paul Girvan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will made an assessment of the potential merits of a lower rate tax-band for the hospitality industry in Northern Ireland to better compete with the tax system for the hospitality industry in the Irish Republic.

Mel Stride: At Autumn Budget 2017, the government announced to a call for evidence on the impact of VAT and APD on tourism in Northern Ireland, to report at the next Budget. The call for evidence was published at Spring Statement, and is open to responses until 5 June 2018.

PAYE

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what legislative changes were made to enable employers to report real-time information on taxation to HMRC.

Mel Stride: The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 No. 822 made the amendments necessary to the Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/2682) to enable Pay As You Earn (PAYE) reporting in real time. The collection of National Insurance contributions (NICs), the income tax construction industry scheme (CIS) and student loan repayments also rely on the PAYE system. Consequently amendments were also made to the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/1004), the Income Tax (Construction Industry Scheme) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/2045) and the Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/470) to reflect the introduction of reporting in real time.

Taxation: Credit Cards

Philip Davies: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the withdrawal of credit card payment facilities on changes to the level of personal tax collected by HMRC.

Mel Stride: HMRC considered the impacts of withdrawing personal credit cards as a method of payment and concluded there would be no significant impact on the level of personal tax collected. Withdrawing this payment method has saved public money and prevented people paying by other payment methods cross-subsidising those who pay by personal credit card.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Chris Elmore: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average length of time was for HMRC to notify people of their failure to complete their tax self-assessment by the deadline in each of the last three years.

Mel Stride: Initial filing penalties for those customers who have failed to send their SA returns in on time are issued each year starting 30 days after the final filing date of 31st January. For operational reasons, the issue of the notices is staggered over a period of a few days; all penalty notices are issued by the end of the first week of March each year.

Royal Bank of Scotland: Greater Manchester

Jeff Smith: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Royal Bank of Scotland representatives on branch closures in Manchester.

Jeff Smith: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Royal Bank of Scotland branches have been closed in (a) Manchester and (b) England in each of the last three years.

Mel Stride: The Treasury does not collect data relating to bank branch closures. The decision to open or close branches is a commercial matter, in which the Government does not intervene. However, the impact of closures on communities must be understood, considered and mitigated, where possible. Government supports the industry’s Access to Banking Standard, launched in May 2017, which commits banks to ensure personal and business customers are better informed about branch closures and the reasons for them closing, along with the options they have locally to continue to access banking services. The Access to Banking Standard is monitored and enforced by the independent Lending Standards Board. Government also supports the Post Office’s banking framework agreement which enables 99% of personal and 95% of banks’ business customers to conduct their everyday banking services at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches. In March, in response to my request, the Post Office and UK Finance committed to joint work to raise public awareness of the banking services available at the Post Office for individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises. Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, including RBS, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel RBS Group retains its own board which is responsible for commercial and operational decisions, including in relation to its branch network. The Government’s shareholding in RBS Group is managed at arm's length and on a commercial basis through UK Financial Investments Ltd, a company which is wholly owned by the Government.

Local Government: Private Finance Initiative

Clive Lewis: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what procedures his Department has in place to (a) support and (b) audit local authority (i) procurement and (ii) management of private finance initiative contracts.

Robert Jenrick: The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) provides a wide range of support to authorities. The Green Book contains a set of methodologies and processes for all types of procurement, including PFI. Our standard form of PFI contract, SOPC, ensures certain core principles are followed in the design of PFI contracts. The IPA has also published a range of advice on managing PFI contracts, covering areas such as operational savings, refinancing and termination. Finally, the IPA offers bespoke advice to authorities, relating to procurement and contract management, on their request. It is the responsibility of the sponsoring department to develop a policy for auditing the activities of local authorities.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

European Youth Work Convention

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to uphold the Declaration of the Second European Youth Work Convention in 2015.

Tracey Crouch: We take account of all non-binding European youth-related recommendations including the Declaration in our ongoing work and development of our programmes. We value the exchange of best practice at a European level, regularly engage with the Council of the European Union Youth Working Parties to support and influence the development of EU level conclusions and recently invited member states to contribute to the development of the Civil Society Strategy.

Museums and Galleries

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding was allocated from the public purse to museums in 2017-18.

Michael Ellis: In terms of allocation, the fifteen museums and galleries directly funded by DCMS were allocated £327 million for Financial Year 2017-18 under the current Spending Review term. Other major public funders of museums include Local Government, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and Arts Council England. In addition, the Mendoza Review published last year identified twelve other sources of government investment in the museums sector, from universities and higher education, to grants and tax breaks. Together, these sixteen sources of public funding have on average invested £844 million a year into museums over the past decade.

Public Lending Right: Electronic Publishing

Mr Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department plans to lay statutory instruments before Parliament to extend the Public Lending Right to e-book loans.

Mr Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Public Lending Right will be extended to e-book loans in time for the planned implementation date of 1 July 2018.

Michael Ellis: Section 31 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 (DEA 2017), when commenced, will extend the Public Lending Right (PLR) to include the remote lending of e-books and audiobooks, where such lending takes place away from library premises. The Department intends to consult shortly with interested parties about amending relevant secondary legislation to ensure that it reflects section 31 of the DEA 2017. We intend to lay the necessary statutory instruments to amend relevant secondary legislation as soon as is practicable, following consideration of the responses to consultation.

Electronic Publishing: Public Libraries

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what his policy is on the provision of electronic books by libraries.

Michael Ellis: We are committed to encouraging the availability of e-books for lending from public library services. When commenced, section 31 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 will extend the Public Lending Right to include the remote lending of e-books and audiobooks, where such lending takes place away from library premises.

BBC

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will hold discussions with the BBC on increasing the level of transparency of its commissioning processes.

Margot James: This is a matter for the BBC as it is operationally and editorially independent of Government.

Tourism

Wera Hobhouse: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of promoting the UK's visit economy by providing (a) financial and (b) other support to destination marketing organisations.

Michael Ellis: DCMS are sponsors of VisitBritain(VB) and VisitEngland(VE) who provide a wide range of support for Destination Marketing Organisations or Destination Management Organisations (DMO) across the UK.

Radio Frequencies

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Annex 2 of Ofcom’s Public Sector Spectrum Release of 2 March 2016, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the 1375 to 1400 MHz band as a longer-term option for sharing.

Margot James: The band in question is heavily used by the Ministry of Defence and therefore not included in the Public Sector Spectrum Release Programme. Unless MOD usage changes significantly we would not expect to be assessing that band as a potential band for sharing in the near future.

Social Media: Children

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2018 to Question 137976 on Social Media: Children, and with reference to the ASA news release of 30 June 2017 stating Ads that directly or indirectly promote an HFSS product cannot appear in children’s media, if he will provide a list of those websites which cannot display such adverts.

Margot James: Rules governing the promotion of HFSS products on children's media online are enforced on an ad-by-ad, self-regulatory basis and are a matter for ASA.

Social Media: Children

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2018 to Question 137975 on Social Media: Children, which organisation holds that information.

Margot James: An Ofcom childrens media literacy report which was published last year and can be found here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/108182/children-parents-media-use-attitudes-2017.pdf . This report provides detailed evidence on media use, attitudes and understanding among children and young people.

Music

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has taken to support the live music industry in (a) Manchester and (b) the UK.

Margot James: The live music industry is a vital part of the UK’s music ecosystem, contributing £1bn to the economy in 2016. We have undertaken a number of measures to support live music, most recently we announced that the Agent of Change principle will be included in the National Planning Policy Framework, helping to protect music venues when new housing is built. Government is investing £78 million in a new theatre and arts complex in Manchester, the Factory, which will have live music as part of its offer. Arts Council England provides funding support for Band on the Wall a key venue for Manchester’s live music scene.

Football: Racial Discrimination

Fiona Onasanya: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to tackle racism in grassroots football.

Tracey Crouch: We are committed to combating racism in any sport. Government's sport and physical activity strategy ‘Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation’ has diversity and inclusion at its heart. I continue to meet regularly with decision-makers to check on the progress football is making collectively to tackle discrimination in all its forms. The Department supports the Football Association’s work led by their Inclusion Advisory Board and is committed to investing £2 million, through Sport England, towards Football Association coaching bursary schemes. Grassroots football also receives support from our national sport council, Sport England, who provide free guidance for running a club through its "Club Matters" programme, to help clubs become inclusive. There are 11063 Club Matters registered football clubs.

Treasure Trove: Codes of Practice

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to publish details of the scheduled revision of the Treasure Act Code of Practice.

Michael Ellis: The scheduled revision of the Treasure Act Code of Practice will be published following a planned public consultation on the Code. The consultation will include proposals to reflect the expansion of the Portable Antiquities Scheme in England and Wales, and other measures intended to update and simplify the Treasure process. In addition, the consultation will include proposed measures to strengthen the capacity of the Act to preserve important treasure finds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We intend to publish the consultation in the next few months.

Northern Ireland Office

Official Visits: Republic of Ireland

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what protocols and agreements are in place relating to visits to Northern Ireland by Ministers of the Irish Republic.

Karen Bradley: The Northern Ireland Office is informed in advance of any visits to Northern Ireland by Irish Government Ministers, through the British Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat. It is not the responsibility of the NIO to inform local representatives.

Leo Varadkar

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how and when her office was informed officially about the visit to Northern Ireland by Leo Varadkar on 30 April 2018; and what information was vouchsafed about that visit at that time.

Karen Bradley: The Northern Ireland Office was officially informed about this visit by the Irish side of the British Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat on Sunday 29th April. The information provided included details of venues to be visited and outline timings.

Michel Barnier

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions the Government held with the EU Commission on the (a) administrative arrangements, (b) visit programme and (c) agenda items for the visit by Michel Barnier to Northern Ireland on 30 April and 1 May 2018.

Karen Bradley: The Northern Ireland Office had no discussions with the EU Commission on the visit to Northern Ireland by Michel Barnier on 30 April and 1 May 2018.

Domestic Visits: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether she observes parliamentary protocols on notifying the sitting MP when making a visit to a Northern Ireland constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley: My ministerial team and I observe the correct parliamentary protocols on notifying the sitting MP when making a visit to a Northern Ireland constituency.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Members

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will place in the Library copies of the representations she has received from political parties in Northern Ireland on the subject of reducing the salaries of Members of the Legislative Assembly; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Shailesh Vara: As the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland told the House on 21 March 2018, any representations made to her by political parties regarding the salaries and allowances for Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly will be published, subject to any necessary redaction of sensitive or personal data. Any such representations will be published by the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Government

Alan Mak: What progress has been made on restoring devolved government in Northern Ireland.

Karen Bradley: I recently held bilateral discussions with party leaders in Belfast to talk about next steps in Northern Ireland and I will meet the parties again shortly. During our discussions, I reviewed the current position with them and explored how the restoration of devolution might be achieved while ensuring the good governance of Northern Ireland in the interim.

Economic Growth: Northern Ireland

Edward Argar: What recent assessment she has made of the level of growth in the Northern Ireland economy.

Maggie Throup: What recent assessment she has made of the level of growth in the Northern Ireland economy.

Karen Bradley: This government has presided over a period where Economic output in Northern Ireland continues to rise, and the export market has rapidly expanded. Unemployment levels are close to an all-time low, and 52,000 more people are in work compared to 2010. The recent announcement by Bombardier is yet another example of growth in the economy.In my engagements across Northern Ireland I am consistently impressed by the talent and expertise on offer. However, there are crucial economic challenges to address and a restored Executive is essential to make the key strategic decisions needed to advance the Northern Ireland Economy.

Borders: Northern Ireland

Ged Killen: What the Government's policy is on customs arrangements on the island of Ireland after the UK leaves the EU.

Christine Jardine: What assessment she has made of the potential merits of Northern Ireland remaining in the Customs Union.

Karen Bradley: The UK as a whole will be leaving the Customs Union.This Government is committed to delivering a Brexit that upholds the Belfast Agreement and the commitments that we have made to the people of Northern Ireland to avoid a hard border with Ireland and any border down the Irish Sea.

Northern Ireland Office: Low Pay

Catherine West: What steps she is taking to improve wages and conditions for staff in her Department who are on low pay.

Mr Shailesh Vara: No Northern Ireland Office employee earns less than the living wage - £10.20 in London and £8.75 outside London.The Northern Ireland Office is aligned to the Ministry of Justice for terms and conditions including pay.

Prime Minister

Jagtar Singh Johal

Jo Swinson: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April 2018 to Question 137505, what information Prime Minister Modi provided on Jagtar Singh Johal's case and treatment.

Mrs Theresa May: When meeting with Prime Minister Modi on 18 April, I raised our requirement for continued consular access to Mr Johal and questions over his treatment in custody.